The Russian Court System: A Complete Map

Russia has two main branches of courts that hear ordinary disputes: courts of general jurisdiction for cases involving individuals, crimes and administrative matters, and arbitrazh courts for business disputes between companies and entrepreneurs. Both lead up to the Supreme Court. The Constitutional Court stands apart and reviews only whether laws comply with the Constitution.

Attorney Elena Petrova represents clients abroad in Russian courts of both branches. Knowing which court hears your case is the first step, because a claim filed in the wrong court is returned and time is lost.

Courts of General Jurisdiction

This branch hears family, inheritance, housing, labour and consumer disputes, criminal cases and challenges to acts of officials. Its first level is formed by justices of the peace and district courts. Justices of the peace handle smaller property claims, divorce without a dispute over children and minor offences.

District courts hear most other civil and criminal cases. Regional courts, including the Moscow City Court, act as a first instance for grave crimes and certain special matters, and as an appeal court for district courts. Military courts form a separate line inside this branch.

Arbitrazh Courts for Business Disputes

Arbitrazh courts are state courts, not private arbitration. They decide disputes between companies and entrepreneurs, bankruptcy cases, corporate conflicts and challenges to tax and customs decisions. Each region has a first-instance arbitrazh court.

The Intellectual Property Court is a specialised arbitrazh court. It hears patent and trademark disputes and reviews decisions of the patent office.

Routes of Appeal and Cassation

An appeal reviews both facts and law and must be filed quickly after the decision in full form. Cassation looks at errors of law only. A decision usually enters into force after the appeal, so enforcement can start before cassation.

The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation

Since 2014 the Supreme Court has been the top court for both branches, after the Supreme Arbitrazh Court was merged into it. Its judicial boards hear cassation complaints in civil, economic, criminal, administrative and military cases.

Only a small share of complaints reaches a hearing. A judge first screens each complaint and refuses most without a session. The Plenum issues explanations on how to apply laws, and lower courts treat them as binding in practice.

The Constitutional Court

The Constitutional Court sits in St Petersburg. It checks whether a law applied in a specific case complies with the Constitution. An individual may file a complaint only after exhausting ordinary remedies in the courts.

If the court finds a rule unconstitutional, the case of the applicant can be reviewed. Regional constitutional and charter courts were abolished by 2023.

Choosing the Correct Court for Your Claim

Jurisdiction depends on who the parties are and the nature of the dispute. A foreign company suing a Russian company over supply goes to an arbitrazh court. A foreign individual claiming a share of an inheritance goes to a district court. Territorial rules usually point to the defendant's address, with exceptions for real estate.

Court information, case cards and hearing dates are published on sudrf.ru for general courts and kad.arbitr.ru for arbitrazh cases.

Representation Before Russian Courts From Abroad

We file claims, attend hearings and handle appeals under a power of attorney. Many courts allow electronic filing and some hearings take place by video link. You receive a report in English after each hearing.

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