Abstract: the article is devoted to the transformation of international legal norms into the Russian legal system from the positions of the European Court of Human Rights. In the context of a functioning democracy and the observance of human rights proclaimed by various international legal instruments, freedom of expression is important in itself, and it plays a central role in protecting other rights enshrined in the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Without a clear guarantee of the right to freedom of expression, which falls under the protection of independent and impartial courts, there can not be a modern democratic state. This general position can be considered an axiom. The Convention allows to protect civil rights and freedoms, and, in particular, the right to freedom of expression. At the same time, freedom of expression may conflict with other rights, such as the right to respect for private life, freedom of conscience and religion. In the event of contradictions, it is necessary to clearly define the limits of the application of law and the prevalence of one rule over the rest. This is facilitated by a detailed interpretation of Article 10, as well as the criteria developed by the European Court to determine the limits of this freedom.
Keywords: rights and freedoms, the European Court of Justice, regulations, international legal norms, the legal system, law, responsibility