The Supreme Court of Arbitration of the Russian Federation is the final instance in commercial disputes in Russia. Besides, it supervises the work of lower courts of arbitration and gives interpretation of laws and elucidations concerning their implementations, which are compulsory for lower courts.

History

Commercial arbitrations in Russia existed even before the October revolution, though their powers were very limited and immediately after the revolution they were abolished. In 1922 Supreme Arbitration Commission attached to the Council of Labour and Defense and oblast' arbitration commissions were created. Their function was to solve disputes between state-owned institutions (including profit-making companies). In 1931 all those commissions were abolished. The newly created State Arbitration of the USSR was to resolve disputes arising out of contracts exchanged between enterprises subordinate to different governmental agencies. The disputes arising within one agency's jurisdiction were not brought to the State Arbitration. Whenever the State Arbitration discovered any violations of law its duty was to report about it to respective law enforcement offices. Similar state arbitrations were created in republics of the USSR. The October Revolution, also known as the Bolshevik Revolution or November Revolution, was the second phase of the Russian Revolution of 1917, the first having been instigated by the events around the February Revolution. ... An oblast ( Russian, Ukrainian: о́бласть) is a subnational entity of Bulgaria, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the now-defunct Soviet Union, approximately equivalent to a province. ...

In 1960 new State Arbitration attached to the Council of Ministers of the USSR Regulations were adopted by the Council of Ministers of the USSR. It de facto established stare decisis principle since upper state arbitrations were empowered to give compulsory elucidations to the lower ones. This article or section should be merged with Peoples Commissar Sovnarkom (Russian language СовНарКом, the abbreviation of the phrase Совет Народных Комиссар&#1086... Stare decisis (Latin: , Anglicisation: , to stand by things decided) (more fully, stare decisis et non quieta movere) is a Latin legal term, used in common law to express the notion that prior court decisions must be recognized as precedents, according to case law. ...

The position of the State Arbitration underwent crucial changes in 1987. The courts of arbitration became a separate branch of courts not subject to the control of executive branch. They have retained this position by the present moment.

Composition

All judges of the Supreme Court of Arbitration including the Chairman are nominated by the president of Russia and appointed by the Federation Council. In order to become a judge a person must attain the age of 35, have legal education and 10-years length of service. Only nationals of Russia can serve as judges. The President of Russia (ru: Президент России is the highest position within the Government of Russia. ... Federation Council refers to one of the following: Federation Council of Russia—the upper house of the Federal Assembly of Russia (the lower house is the State Duma). ...

The Chairman of the Supreme Court of Arbitration directs the work of the court. He convenes sessions of the Presidium of the Court and plenary sessions, appoints employees of the Court's staff and guides its work, represents the Court in governmental offices. The current Chairman of the Court is Anton Ivanov. The Chairman has several deputies.

There are two Boards in the Supreme Court of Arbitration, which supervise decisions of lower courts of arbitration whenever appeal is lodged by a disappointed party. One Board hears cases concerning private law and the other hears cases concerning public law (for example, if a corporation is charged with tax evasion or files for bankruptcy).

The Presidium of the Supreme Court of Arbitration deals with appeals on decisions of lower courts of arbitration which have already entered into force. Only Prosecutor General of Russia, Chairman of the Supreme Court of Arbitration and his deputies can bring an appeal to the Presidium. When a case is heard in the Presidium, execution of the decision of a lower court may be delayed. Coat of Arms of the Prosecutor General of Russia The Prosecutor General of Russia (also Attorney General of Russia, Russian: ) heads the system of official prosecution in courts known as the Office of the Prosecutor General of Russian Federation (Генеральная прокуратура Российской Федерации). The Office of the Prosecutor General is entrusted with: prosecution in...

On plenary sessions the Court studies judicial practice and renders recommendations considering application by lower courts of particular provisions. In fact, lower courts must apply recommendations of the Supreme Court of Arbitration. Procedural Code of Arbitration provides that the Presidium of the Supreme Court of Arbitration is entitled to reverse a decision of a lower court if it does not follow common judicial practice. Organizational matters are also dealt with on plenary sessions. Plenary sessions must be convened at least twice a year.

External links

• Official website (in Russian)
• Official website (in English)