Digital Legal Terms in Russia

Much of Russian legal work now happens online: filing claims, watching case files, signing documents and even attending hearings. This glossary explains 20 digital terms, from Moy Arbitr and Gosuslugi to ECP, ESIA and online zasedanie. For a client in California they define what can be done remotely and what still needs a visit or a representative.

Attorney Elena Petrova files and tracks cases through these systems for clients who live abroad.

Identity and Access

• ESIA — the Unified Identification and Authentication System, a single login for state services and court portals.
• Gosuslugi — the public services portal built on ESIA. It handles certificates, registers and many applications.
• Podtverzhdennaya uchetnaya zapis — a confirmed account. Confirming it usually requires in-person identification or a Russian bank, which is hard from abroad.
• SNILS — the pension insurance number often requested when an account is created.

Electronic Signatures

The rules are set by Federal Law No. 63-FZ "On Electronic Signature" of 2011, not to be confused with the bar law bearing the same number.

• ECP or elektronnaya podpis — an electronic signature in general.
• Prostaya ECP — a simple signature, such as a login and code.
• UNEP — an enhanced unqualified signature, used where the parties agree to it.
• UKEP — an enhanced qualified signature issued by an accredited centre. It is treated like a handwritten signature.
• MChD — a machine-readable power of attorney for signing on behalf of a company.

Court Portals

• Moy Arbitr — the e-filing system for commercial courts at my.arbitr.ru.
• KAD — the online file of commercial cases at kad.arbitr.ru, open to anyone.
• GAS Pravosudie — the state system for general courts, with e-filing on ej.sudrf.ru.

Documents in Digital Form

• Elektronny obraz dokumenta — a scanned paper document, usually signed with a simple signature of the filer.
• Elektronny dokument — a document created digitally and signed with ECP.
• A claim with a request for interim measures in a commercial court must carry a UKEP when filed online.

Remote Hearings

• Online zasedanie — a hearing held by web conference, where the participant joins from a computer after ESIA login.
• VKS — videoconference through another court or a detention facility, requiring presence at that site.
• Khodataystvo ob uchastii v online zasedanii — a motion to join remotely, filed in advance.

Registers You Can Check Online

The EGRN extract on property is ordered through Rosreestr or Gosuslugi. The FSSP database shows open enforcement cases. The tax service lets companies and individuals check counterparties.

What Still Needs a Representative

Without a confirmed ESIA account and a UKEP, a person in California cannot file most documents alone. A Russian representative with a power of attorney fills that gap. The online systems then let you watch every step in real time.

Elena Petrova files through Moy Arbitr and GAS Pravosudie and joins online hearings on your behalf.

The main channel of communication with the attorney is email: attorneypetrova1@gmail.com.