<![CDATA[This article aims to analyze academic integrity both as a legal category and as an indicator of legal culture, highlighting its essential role in shaping the quality and morality of higher education. It argues that the implementation and internalization of academic integrity must be prioritized by all actors within the educational system to ensure the sustainable development of the Russian scientific and academic environment. Violations of academic integrity—such as plagiarism, data falsification, or dishonest assessment practices—pose significant risks to the educational process, leading to diminished public trust, intellectual decline, and the normalization of deviant academic behavior. To achieve its objectives, the study employs a qualitative research methodology, using a normative and socio-legal approach. Data are collected through documentary analysis of Russian legislative frameworks, academic codes of conduct, and relevant legal documents regulating education. In addition, in-depth interviews with legal scholars and education policy experts provide interpretative insights into the relationship between law, ethics, and academic practice. The qualitative analysis allows the study to explore not only the normative aspects of academic integrity but also the underlying cultural and institutional factors affecting its enforcement. The findings reveal that the absence of a precise legal definition of academic integrity hinders consistent interpretation and enforcement. Thus, effective regulation should be grounded in well-formulated legislative provisions aligned with international legal drafting standards. Ultimately, the article identifies the key features of academic integrity as a legal category and underscores its pivotal function as both the moral foundation and legal instrument for advancing education quality and social development. REFERENCES: Abdullayev, I., Akhmetshin, E., Nayanov, E., Otcheskiy, I., & Lyubanenko, A. (2024). 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