Innominate phenomena in civil law

Introduction: despite numerous references to the term 'innominate' when describing various civil law phenomena, there have been no scientific attempts to analyze its nature. In Russian civil law, only the problems of innominate contracts and innominate methods for securing performance of obligations have been studied so far. Even in specialized works that deal with some particular types of innominate phenomena, this issue is not analyzed as a complex phenomenon that is crucial not only for law of obligations but for civil law in general. Currently, innominate objects of civil rights, innominate legal facts, innominate remedies, innominate legal rights remain an unexplored field. Moreover, there is no list of innominate legal phenomena. Thus, it appears necessary to develop a scientific approach to innominate phenomena in civil law. Purpose: the article aims to define the concept of innominate phenomena in civil law, to distinguish between the concepts 'innominate phenomena' and 'gaps in law', to identify innominate legal phenomena in civil law, to develop classification of those, and to describe the innominate phenomena being the least studied in civil law science. Methods: based on the dialectical method, which is the key method for legal studies, the following tasks were accomplished: innominate phenomena and views on their nature were studied from the perspective of historical variability; existing scientific views on innominate phenomena and their features were evaluated; innominate phenomena were analyzed in relation to other legal categories. The following methods were used as well: the comparative legal method, the method of alternatives, the structural functional method, the formal legal method, the historical legal method, and the method of legal interpretation. Results: the author's definition of innominate phenomena in civil law was proposed. Based on the doctrine of determinism, there were identified criteria for distinguishing between the concepts 'gaps in law ' and 'innominate phenomena'. Classifications of innominate civil law phenomena were developed. They can be used by law enforcement agencies in resolving legal disputes that involve phenomena of this kind. Conclusions: innominate legal phenomena are positive civil law phenomena reflecting the principle of freedom of participants in civil relations. Prohibitions concerning the existence of innominate legal phenomena established by Russian legislation contradict its basic principles. Therefore, it is necessary to expand the scope of authorized and admissible innominate phenomena.