Legal Resources

This page lists public sources of Russian law and official databases that foreign clients can use on their own: where to read the codes, how to find a court case, how to check a Russian company or an attorney. The list was compiled by attorney Elena Petrova for readers who deal with Russia from abroad and want to verify facts before or during a dispute.

All resources are named as text. Most are in Russian only, so a browser translation tool helps with a first look, but official documents should be read in the original.

Where to Read Russian Codes and Laws

The official portal of legal information, pravo.gov.ru, publishes federal laws and presidential decrees in their authentic text. The main acts for private clients are the Civil Code, the Family Code and the Housing Code.

For disputes, the procedural codes matter most. The Civil Procedure Code governs courts of general jurisdiction, and the Arbitrazh Procedure Code governs commercial courts. Criminal matters are governed by the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code.

Court Portals and Case Search

Every Russian court has a page within the state automated system at sudrf.ru. There you can search a case by party name or number, see hearing dates and often read the published decision.

Commercial disputes are listed in the arbitrazh case file system at kad.arbitr.ru. It shows filings, rulings and scheduled hearings for all arbitrazh courts. Moscow courts of general jurisdiction have their own portal at mos-gorsud.ru. Rulings and Plenum resolutions of the Supreme Court are published at vsrf.ru.

Company and Enforcement Registries

An EGRUL extract downloaded from the tax service carries an electronic signature and is accepted by courts.

Checking an Attorney's Status

The Ministry of Justice keeps the register of attorneys on its website, minjust.gov.ru. A search by surname and region shows the registration number and whether the status is active.

The regional bar chamber can confirm membership as well. For Moscow this is the Moscow Bar Chamber.

Tools for Property Checks

Information on real estate comes from the Unified State Register of Real Estate, available through rosreestr.gov.ru. An extract lists the owner, area and registered encumbrances.

The public cadastral map shows plot boundaries and cadastral numbers. Both sources help before a purchase or when an estate includes property.

Glossary of Common Terms

A few words appear in almost every Russian document. "Isk" is a statement of claim. "Reshenie" is a court decision, and "opredelenie" is a procedural ruling. "Gosposhlina" is the state court fee. "Doverennost" means a power of attorney.

Knowing these terms makes it easier to follow case pages on sudrf.ru and kad.arbitr.ru.

Limits of Self-Service Research

Databases show what has been registered or published. They do not show private agreements, unfiled claims or evidence held by the other side. Legal effect depends on how a court reads the facts, not only on the entries found.

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