Civil Disputes

A civil dispute in Russia is resolved by a court of general jurisdiction when the parties are individuals, and by an arbitrazh court when both sides are businesses. If you live in California and have a claim over a contract, property or damages in Russia, you can pursue it without travelling: a Russian attorney acting under a power of attorney files the claim, attends hearings and reports to you in English.

Attorney Elena Petrova, a member of the Moscow Bar (register number 77/13551), represents clients abroad in Russian civil cases. Below is how these cases are classified, how they move through the courts and what the attorney does at each step.

Common Categories of Civil Claims

Most cases brought by clients living outside Russia fall into a few groups. Each group has its own evidence and its own traps.

Contract claims: unpaid loans, failed supply or service agreements, refusal to return a deposit.
Property claims: recovery of an apartment or land plot, division of shared ownership, eviction.
Damages: harm caused by flooding, a road accident or a defective service, including moral damages.
Consumer claims: disputes with banks, developers and insurers.

The general limitation period under the Civil Code is three years from the day you learned, or should have learned, of the violation. For some claims it is shorter, so dates are checked first.

How a Case Moves Through Russian Courts

Stage	What happens	Typical deadline
Pre-trial demand	Written claim to the other side, where the law or contract requires it	Set by law or contract
First instance	Claim filed, evidence exchanged, hearings held	Two months as a general rule
Appeal	Full review of facts and law	One month from the reasoned judgment
Cassation	Review of legal errors only	Three months from entry into force

Jurisdiction usually follows the defendant's address. A property claim is filed where the real estate is located.

Building a Strategy Before Filing

Strategy starts with the question of what you actually want to receive: money, property, or a court finding that protects you later. The answer defines the claim, the evidence and whether a settlement makes more sense than a judgment.

We also assess whether a judgment can be enforced. A defendant without assets or income makes a win on paper worth little. Where there is a risk that assets will be moved, the attorney may ask the court for interim measures, such as an arrest of an account or a ban on registration of a sale.

Documents signed abroad need an apostille and a certified Russian translation. Correspondence in messengers and email can be used as evidence when its authorship is shown.

What the Attorney Handles for You

The attorney prepares the demand letter and the statement of claim, collects evidence, requests court orders for documents held by third parties and speaks at hearings. She reviews the other side's filings and responds in writing.

After the judgment she obtains the writ of execution and submits it to the bailiffs or directly to the debtor's bank. You receive short written updates after each hearing and copies of key papers.

Settlement and Mediation Options

Russian procedure encourages settlement at any stage. A settlement agreement approved by the court has the force of a judgment and can be enforced through bailiffs. Mediation is also available, and the court may pause the case for it.

For a client abroad, settlement often saves months of hearings. The attorney negotiates terms, checks that payment schedules are realistic and adds clear consequences for delay.

Starting Your Case Remotely

Send a short description of the dispute, the key dates and copies of the documents you have. The attorney will reply with an initial view of the claim, the limitation period and the next steps.

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