The article considers the institution of loss of trust as one of the ambiguous grounds for the dismissal of the highest official of the subject of the Russian Federation from office. The complex legal content of such grounds is noted, since it is not always possible to identify criteria that are important for qualifying the act of a senior official. The article also highlights the interpersonal and political aspects that accompany the relationship between the head of state and the highest official of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation.