Abuse of Substantive and Procedural Rights in Consumer Protection Disputes
( Pp. 11-19)

Abstract: The purpose of the study. The article discusses the problems of abuse of substantive and procedural rights in disputes in the field of consumer protection. The article analyzes the existing legal regulation, established and developing law enforcement practice, as well as doctrinal positions regarding the qualification of actions that go beyond the principle of good faith in the exercise of their rights by the subjects of the legal relations under consideration. The purpose of the study is to identify and systematize criteria for distinguishing between the legitimate exercise of rights by the consumer and abuse of rights, which is necessary to ensure a balance of interests between the subjects of the legal relationship under consideration, increase the effectiveness of legal proceedings and prevent procedural manipulation. Conclusions. As a result of the conducted research, the authors conclude that abuse of the right in consumer disputes manifests itself in two interrelated planes: material (unjustified overstatement of claims, creation of artificial grounds for liability) and procedural (prolongation of the judicial process, abuse of the right to appeal to the court, presentation of deliberately false information and evidence). The general formulas of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation and the Civil Procedure Code of the Russian Federation have insufficient industry specification, which creates legal uncertainty. The authors substantiate the expediency of applying a differentiated approach based on the criteria of good faith, proportionality of claims, the presence of real property or non-property damage, as well as the procedural purpose of the actions performed. It is proposed to consolidate systemic indicators of abuse in the explanations of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation and introduce mechanisms for the procedural suppression of unfair behavior. This approach will make it possible to maintain a high level of consumer protection, while excluding the use of consumer status in order to extract unjustified benefits or destabilize business activities.

Okriashvili, T.G., Gorokhov, D.Yu. (2026). Abuse of Substantive and Procedural Rights in Consumer Protection Disputes. Gaps in Russian Legislation, 19(3), 11-19. DOI: 10.33693/2072-3164-2026-19-3-11-19. EDN: LUIULM

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abuse of law, consumer rights protection, substantive and procedural rights, principle of good faith, civil proceedings, judicial practice, consumer disputes.