Problems of Execution of Intermediary Contracts in Parallel Imports and when the Intermediary Acts Outside the Russian Federation

In connection with the introduction of restrictive economic sanctions imposed by foreign states on Russia due to Russia's participation in the Special Military Operation, as well as with the mass withdrawal of foreign manufacturers of goods from the Russian market and the blocking of the SWIFT system, the economic and legal role of contracts that formalize the purchase of goods from foreign manufacturers has increased significantly. The purpose of the study is a comprehensive analysis of the problems of legal regulation that arise when executing intermediary contracts in parallel imports and when intermediaries act outside the Russian Federation. Materials and methods. To achieve the goal of the study, the authors use general scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, deduction, method of system analysis) and private law methods (technical-legal, formal-legal). The material for the research is the norms of the current Russian legislation regulating intermediary contracts and their execution in parallel imports, the works of civil law scientists, law enforcement and judicial practice. Results of the study. The paper identifies that intermediary contracts and intermediary activities are not defined in the modern civil law. The analysis of the subject of intermediary contracts made it possible to identify the commonality of their legal structure and to give recommendations on the choice of one of the contract constructions in a particular situation. The analysis of the practice of legalization of parallel imports in Russian legislation, law enforcement and judicial practice is carried out. The change in the legal approach to the situation of parallel import is shown on the example of the utilization fee, maritime intermediary and maritime agency agreements. This has made it possible to classify intermediaries that facilitate international trade. Conclusions. The comprehensive analysis of the problems of execution of intermediary contracts in parallel imports and the legal regulation of the actions of intermediaries facilitating international trade on the basis of the study of regulatory legal acts, law enforcement and judicial practice, allowed the authors to identify the following problems of legal regulation of this legal institution: the lack of a legal definition of the term "intermediary contracts", the lack of the qualification of mixed and atypical contracts that draw up mediation, as well as the lack of contractual structures that actually replace the intermediary contracts named by the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. The legal mechanism of parallel imports and settlements with parallel import operations has not yet been legislated, which necessitates the continuation of scientific research on this problem.