Text c The Courts of the Subjects of the Russian Federation

There are 84 subjects of the Russian Federation. So, the territory of the Russian Federation is divided into 84 circuits.

Supreme Courts of the republics of the Russian Federation, other regional courts, city courts of cities of Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, courts of autonomous districts and regions may act as courts of first instance when considering specific categories of cases particularly important for the society. In general case they are deemed to be courts of second instance (courts of appeal), i.e. they shall consider appeals and check the compliance with law and the validity of decisions and other court rulings not enacted yet.

The courts of the criminal jurisdiction try persons charged with more severe offences. The accused is tried by the judge of the court with two assessors or jury.

The Municipal Court

According to the established rule the municipal courts are courts of the first instance with respect to the majority of cases, both criminal and civil, being considered. In the Russian Federation there are several hundred court areas. In Moscow there are 31 municipal court areas. The Municipal Courts are presided over by the President of the Municipal Court. The Municipal Court has very wide jurisdiction under the Civil Procedural Code. It deals with all actions where a party is an individual (excluding the cases directly provided for by the Arbitrazh Procedural Code), based in tort, contract law and other issues. The Municipal Judge can hear the case alone, if both the claimant and the defendant agree to it. There are certain cases where the Municipal Judge must hear the case with two assessors.

Appealing the Decision of the Municipal Court

The decision of the Municipal Judge can be appealed to the correspondent court of the subject of the Russian Federation. The jurisdiction of the Circuit Court when hearing an appeal from the Municipal Court is not the same as in an original Municipal Court action, but in the interest of judgement the appellate court may control the decision of the court of the first instance in full volume.

The Specialized Military Courts

The Specialized Military Courts jurisdiction is similar to the jurisdiction of the Municipal Courts and other courts of general jurisdiction correspondently. The particularities in the jurisdiction of the Specialized Military Courts are that one party to the case must be actual or former military person. On the matters not concerning military service a military person can apply on his discretion to the Specialized Military Court or to the Municipal Court. The decision of the Specialized Military Judge can be appealed to the Military Colleague of the correspondent court of the subject of the Russian Federation.

Text d The Arbitrazh Court of the Russian Federation.

The High Arbitrazh Court

The High Arbitrazh court in general case considers deals in the course of regular supervision. Duties of the high Arbitrazh Court include summarizing of arbitrazh practice. The High Arbitrazh Court is a subject of legislative initiative.

The jurisdiction and the power of the High Arbitrazh Court are similar to the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, but with regard to the matters arising from the exercise of business and other economic activities.

The Federal Arbitrazh Circuit Court

Federal Arbitrazh Circuit Courts are deemed to be courts of second (appeal) instance for Arbitrazh courts of the subjects of the Russian Federation. Federal regions include several subjects of the Russian Federation each, 10 regions altogether.