Russian Legal Glossary: S–Z

This part of the glossary covers Russian legal words that start with the Latin letters S to Z in common transliteration. You will meet them in court notices, bank letters, notary papers and messages from Russian lawyers. Each entry gives the transliterated word, the Russian original and a plain English meaning.

The list was prepared by attorney Elena Petrova for clients in California who deal with Russian courts, registries and bailiffs from abroad. A term alone rarely tells you what to do, so each section also notes when the word usually appears in practice.

S: Detention, Investigators and Liability of Owners

SIZO (СИЗО) is a pre-trial detention facility. A suspect or accused person is held there by court order while the criminal case is pending.

Sledovatel (следователь) is an investigator who runs a criminal case at the preliminary stage and decides on charges and searches.

Subsidiarnaya otvetstvennost (субсидиарная ответственность), often shortened to "subsidiarka", is secondary liability. In bankruptcy it lets creditors recover company debts from directors, owners or others who controlled the debtor.

Sudebny pristav (судебный пристав) is a court bailiff of the enforcement service. Bailiffs freeze accounts, seize property and restrict travel abroad for debtors.

Srok iskovoy davnosti (срок исковой давности) is the limitation period. The general period under the Civil Code is three years from the moment the person learned of the violation.

T: Third Parties and Customs

Tretye litso (третье лицо) is a third party to a case who is not a plaintiff or defendant but whose rights may be affected by the judgment.

Tamozhnya (таможня) is the customs authority. Customs disputes go through administrative appeal and then to an arbitrazh court or a court of general jurisdiction.

U: Codes and Criminal Cases

The UPK sets the rules of investigation and trial. The UK lists crimes and penalties. A suspended sentence means the person stays free but must meet conditions set by the court.

V: Recovery and Claims

Vzyskanie (взыскание) is the recovery of money or property, either through a court decision or through enforcement.

Vstrechny isk (встречный иск) is a counterclaim filed by the defendant in the same case.

Vozrazhenie (возражение) is a written objection or statement of defence against a claim or motion.

Ya and Yu: Legal Entities and Confession

Yuridicheskoe litso (юридическое лицо) is a legal entity, such as an OOO or AO.

Yavka s povinnoy (явка с повинной) is a voluntary surrender with a confession. Russian criminal law treats it as a mitigating circumstance.

Z: Registry Office, Pledge and Defence

ZAGS (ЗАГС) is the civil registry office. It records births, marriages, divorces and deaths.

Zalog (залог) is a pledge or mortgage securing a debt. In criminal procedure the same word means bail.

Zadatok (задаток) is an earnest deposit. The side that breaks the deal loses it or returns it in double.

Zaveshchanie (завещание) is a will, usually certified by a notary.

Zashchitnik (защитник) is a defence lawyer admitted to a criminal case.

Zayavlenie (заявление) is an application or written petition to a court or agency.

When a Glossary Is Not Enough

Words such as subsidiarka, zalog or uslovny srok carry serious consequences. If one of them appears in a document addressed to you, the deadline to respond may already be running. Appeal periods in Russian courts are short and are counted from the date of the decision in final form.

Send a scan of the document, its date and the way you received it. Attorney Elena Petrova will explain what the paper means for you and what should be done next, in English.

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