The prospects for the lex validatis doctrine application under the principle of the closest connection in private international law of the Russian Federation

Introduction: the lex validatis doctrine, based on the preferability of maintaining the validity of a contract, has been well-established in the jurisprudence of common law countries; instead of being justified by the concept of hypothetical will, it is now functioning in the field of the objective test of the closest connection. Thus, it is essential to fill the gap existing in the domestic science ofprivate international law concerning the understanding of the ways of effective use of this doctrine in the mechanism of conflict-of-laws regulation in the Russian Federation. Purpose and objectives: the study aims to shape the understanding of the prospects and suggest ways of using the lex validatis doctrine within the framework of the principle of the closest connection in private international law of the Russian Federation. Methods: the methods used include a historical-legal method, which allows tracing the formation and prospects for the development of the lex validatis doctrine; a comparative legal method, which allows comparing developments in the field under study in common law countries and the Russian Federation; a systematic approach, which makes it possible to propose a coordinated system of ways of implementing the lex validatis doctrine in private international law of the Russian Federation. Results: we suggest using the lex validatis doctrine as one of the most important substantive legal factors for maintaining the substantive validity of a contract under the closest connection principle, which can perform various functions: as a general reserve connecting factor (Item 2 of Article 1186 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation), as a special connecting factor (Item 10 of Article 1211 and Item 1 of Article 1213 of the Civil Code), and as a corrective clause (Item 9 of Article 1211 of the Civil Code). Conclusion: despite the fact that the lex validatis doctrine is not directly enshrined in regulations, it can be implemented in private international law of the Russian Federation. It can be applied as a substantive legal factor complementing the evaluation of territorial ties when determining the law that is most closely related to the relationship (first of all, within the meaning of Item 2 of Article 1186 and Item 9 of Article 1211 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation).