Administrative Offense Proceedings and Pre-Trial Dispute Resolution in the BRICS Countries

This article offers a comparative analysis of the particularities of the implementation of proceedings in cases of administrative offenses and pre-trial dispute resolution in the BRICS member states. The article observes that in the BRICS countries, the issues of pre-trial dispute settlement are resolved using the same mechanisms: negotiation and conciliation procedures, including mediation. The implementation of these mechanisms is possible by the parties to the dispute themselves, with the participation of third parties such as proxies or legal representatives who may be interested in carrying out the procedures, and with the services of independent, professional mediators. The article draws attention to the fact that the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa belong to different legal families, which undoubtedly is a feature of the legal regulation of their administrative offense proceedings as well as of their pre-trial dispute resolution. The article finds that Roman law largely influenced all of the BRICS countries, with the exception of India, whose legal system was formed under the influence of English law, and that the versatility of legal regulation does not allow one to speak fully about the balance of administrative legislation in the studied areas. Furthermore, it is characteristic of all of the BRICS countries that administrative punishment cannot be aimed at humiliating the human dignity of a natural person, causing him or her physical suffering, nor can it be aimed at damaging the business reputation of a legal person. The similarity of the tasks of the administrative legislation of the BRICS countries is noted, which should include the protection of the subjective rights and interests of citizens, ensuring the rule of law, the protection of public order and public safety, and the prevention of administrative offenses. Through the discourse presented by the authors, the concept of an administrative offense is revealed; the acts regulating the proceedings in cases of administrative offenses are considered, as well as the tasks and principles established by national legislation in this direction. Furthermore, the similarities and differences in the legal regulation of proceedings in cases of administrative offenses and pre-trial settlement of disputes are revealed.