This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Our Cookie Notice is part of our Privacy Policy and explains in detail how and why we use cookies. To take full advantage of our website, we recommend that you click on “Accept All”. You can change these settings at any time via the button “Update Cookie Preferences” in our Cookie Notice.
Technical cookies are required for the site to function properly, to be legally compliant and secure. Session cookies only last for the duration of your visit and are deleted from your device when you close your internet browser. Persistent cookies, however, remain and continue functioning on repeat visits.
We does not use any cookie based Analytics or tracking on our websites; see details here.
Personalisation cookies collect information about your website browsing habits and offer you a personalised user experience based on past visits, your location or browser settings. They also allow you to log in to personalised areas and to access third party tools that may be embedded in our website. Some functionality will not work if you don’t accept these cookies.
06/12/2013
On 22 November 2013, the Russian State Duma adopted bill No. 352924-6 (the "Bill") in its third reading. The bill abolishes the Supreme Commercial Court of the Russian Federation (the "SCC") as an independent judicial institution and the highest commercial court in Russia.
It is expected that the Bill, which was approved by the Federation Council on 27 November 2013 and contains amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, will be signed by the Russian President in the near future.
The Bill in a nutshell
The Bill stipulates that the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation (the "Supreme Court") will be the highest judicial authority in civil matters, economic disputes (i.e. that it will get the current functions of the SCC), criminal, administrative and other matters.
A six-month transition period is provided for the hand-over of the SCC’s authority to the Supreme Court. During this period, the judges of the SCC and the Supreme Court will continue to exercise their functions until the Supreme Court is operational in accordance with the Bill. The judges who will sit on the reformed Supreme Court (170 judges in total) will need to pass a qualifying exam before a special examination committee.
Conclusion
Until the reorganisation process of the higher courts in Russia completes, one can anticipate some organisational problems in the functioning of the Russian judicial system, as well as a certain level of nervousness in the manner the commercial courts, especially at appellate and cassation levels, will operate.