Electronic Filing in Russian Courts

Russian courts accept claims, briefs and evidence online. Arbitrazh courts use the "Moy Arbitr" service, and courts of general jurisdiction use the GAS Pravosudie portal, which is also reachable through the Gosuslugi public services site. A filing made online by the deadline counts as timely, even if the court registers it the next day.

Attorney Elena Petrova files documents electronically for foreign clients, so they do not need to send paper originals to Russia for routine steps.

Two Filing Systems and Their Scope

"Moy Arbitr" at my.arbitr.ru covers all arbitrazh courts, from first instance to the Supreme Court's commercial matters. GAS Pravosudie covers district courts, regional courts and magistrates. Moscow general courts also run their own portal, mos-gorsud.ru.

Registering and Signing In

Both systems authenticate users through a verified Gosuslugi account. A foreign individual without such an account normally acts through Russian counsel, who files under a power of attorney.

A simple electronic signature linked to the account is enough for most documents. Some filings require an enhanced qualified electronic signature. A request for interim measures filed online is the usual example.

Preparing Documents for Upload

Each document is uploaded as a separate PDF file with a clear name. Scans must be readable and complete, including stamps and signatures. The claim itself should be a text-searchable file, not a photo.

Attach the power of attorney, proof of state duty payment and proof that copies were sent to the other side. Missing attachments lead to the claim being left without movement until the gap is fixed.

Tracking the Case After Filing

The system shows whether the court accepted or rejected the submission and why. Rejections for technical reasons, such as an unreadable scan, do not stop the clock if the document is refiled promptly with an explanation.

Court rulings then appear in the case card. Notifications arrive by email and in the personal account, but counsel should still check the card directly.

Taking Part in Hearings Online

Russian procedural codes allow participation by web conference. The request is filed in advance through the same system, and the judge decides whether technical conditions allow it.

The participant logs in through the verified account at the set time. If the connection fails on the court's side, the hearing is usually postponed. Videoconference through another court's courtroom remains an alternative.

Deadlines and Time Zones

Deadlines run by the time zone of the court that hears the case. A filing sent from California late in the evening may already be the next day in Moscow. Plan submissions at least a day ahead.

Practical Tips for Clean Filings

Keep file names short and descriptive. Check page order before upload. Save the filing receipt with its timestamp, since it proves compliance with a deadline.

Keep originals available. The court may ask to see a document that was filed only as a scan, and a missing original weakens its evidentiary value.

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