The article discusses the legal and philosophical aspects of the application in the Russian Federation of the principle of increased tolerance of public persons to criticism addressed to them established by the European Court of Human Rights. The author believes that the principle in question contradicts Article 19 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation that guarantees equality of human and civil rights and freedoms regardless of property and official status, membership in public associations, as well as other circumstances. The author has questioned the appropriateness of the introduction of the principle of increased tolerance in Russian law enforcement practice, since it does not contribute to the realization of the “spirit of the law,” while leading to unnecessary accumulation of the law. It is noted that the question of the balance between the right to freedom of expression and opinion and the right to protection of the honour and dignity of the person in the process of criticism of public persons and their activities cannot be settled exhaustively in the legislation as it affects the sphere of morality.