The article discusses some of the key ideas of the pure theory of law of H. Kelsen and justifies their dependence on the idea of mutual legal recognition, equality and justice. The thesis is argued that the legal personality, subjective rights and obligations are determined by the norms of objective law, but these norms must be justified not through a hypothetical and axiologically neutral basic norm, but through the principle of mutual legal recognition (the principle of mutual legal personality). The principle of mutual legal recognition organizes a hierarchy of legal principles and norms, along with such principles as subject equality, freedom, responsibility, justice, dignity, solidarity. The author comes to the conclusion that the principle of mutual recognition and the idea of a social contract should be the basis of Russian legal consciousness and Russian ideology.