RUSSIAN FEDERATION
FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

On Courts of General Jurisdiction in the Russian Federation

7 February 2011
No. 1

Approved by the State Duma on 28 January 2011
Approved by the Federation Council on 2 February 2011

[Translated as of July 2023]

Chapter 1. General Provisions

Article 1. System of Courts of General Jurisdiction

1. The system of courts of general jurisdiction in the Russian Federation is composed of federal courts of general jurisdiction and courts of general jurisdiction of constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

2. Federal courts of general jurisdiction are:

1) general jurisdiction courts of cassation;

2) general jurisdiction courts of appeal;

3) supreme courts of republics, courts of territories, regions, federal cities, a court of an autonomous region, courts of autonomous circuits;

4) district courts, city courts, interdistrict courts (hereinafter referred to as district courts);

5) military courts, the powers, manner of establishment and activities of which are stipulated in a federal constitutional law;

6) specialized courts, the powers, manner of establishment and activities of which are stipulated in a federal constitutional law.

3. Justices of the peace pertain to courts of general jurisdiction of constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Article 2. Legislation of the Russian Federation on Courts of General Jurisdiction

1. The powers, manner of establishment and activities of federal courts of general jurisdiction are stipulated in the Constitution of the Russian Federation, Federal Constitutional Law No. 1 of 31 December 1996 “On the Judicial System of the Russian Federation”, (hereinafter referred to as Federal Constitutional Law “On the Judicial System of the Russian Federation”), Federal Constitutional Law No. 1 of 23 June 1999 “On Military Courts of the Russian Federation” and this Federal Constitutional Law.

2. The powers, manner of activities of justices of the peace and the manner of creation of positions of justices of the peace are stipulated in Federal Constitutional Law “On the Judicial System of the Russian Federation” and in federal laws; the manner of appointment (election) and activities of justices of the peace is also stipulated in laws of constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Article 3. Manner of Establishment and Disestablishment of Courts of General Jurisdiction

1. Federal courts of general jurisdiction are established and disestablished only by virtue of a federal law.

2. Judicial sub-districts and positions of justices of the peace are established and disestablished by laws of constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

3. No court may be disestablished, unless the issues of administration of justice within its jurisdiction are simultaneously transferred to the jurisdiction of another court.

4. The total number of judges of federal courts of general jurisdiction is established in the federal law on the federal budget for the next financial year and the planning period.

5. The total number of justices of the peace and the number of judicial sub-districts in a constituent entity of the Russian Federation are established in a federal law, adopted upon the legislative initiative of the corresponding constituent entity of the Russian Federation, approved by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, or upon the initiative of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, approved by the corresponding constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

Article 4. Administration of Justice by Courts of General Jurisdiction

1. Courts of general jurisdiction administer justice by resolving disputes and considering cases within their scope of competence in civil, administrative and criminal judicial proceedings.

2. Courts of general jurisdiction consider:

1) all civil and administrative cases regarding the protection of violated or disputed rights, freedoms and lawful interests, except for cases considered by other courts in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation;

2) all criminal cases;

3) other cases, referred to their scope of competence by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal constitutional laws and federal laws.

3. Territorial jurisdiction and other rules of distribution of cases among the courts of general jurisdiction according to their jurisdiction are stipulated in federal laws.

Article 5. Principles of Activities of Courts of General Jurisdiction

1. Justice in the Russian Federation is administered only by the courts.

2. No one may be deprived of the right to consideration of one’s case by the court of general jurisdiction and by the judge, within whose jurisdiction that case is referred to by this Federal Constitutional Law and federal laws.

3. All are equal before the court. Courts do not favour any bodies, persons or parties to the proceedings based on their nationality, social status, sex, race, ethnicity, native language, political affinity, or based on their origin, material or official status, place of residence, place of birth, attitude to religion, convictions, membership in public associations, or, likewise, based on other grounds not stipulated in federal law.

4. Courts of general jurisdiction exercise judicial power independently from bodies of the legislative and the executive powers. No legislative or other normative legal act may be adopted and no actions (failure to act) may be performed in the Russian Federation, cancelling or diminishing the independence of courts and judges.

5. In courts of general jurisdiction, cases are considered in a public manner. A case may be considered in camera only when so stipulated in federal law.

6. In courts of general jurisdiction, cases are considered in praesentia. Proceedings in absentia are only allowed when this is stipulated in federal law.

7. In courts of general jurisdiction, consideration of cases is based on the principles of adversarial proceedings and equality of the parties.

8. Effective judicial acts of courts of general jurisdiction, as well as their lawful orders, demands, instructions, subpoenas and other addresses are obligatory for all federal public authorities, public authorities of constituent entities of the Russian Federation, local self-government bodies, state and municipal servants, public associations, officials, other natural and legal persons and are to be strictly observed on the whole territory of the Russian Federation.

Article 6. Financial Support of Activities of Courts of General Jurisdiction

1. Financial support of activities of courts of general jurisdiction and of justices of the peace is performed at the expense of budgetary allocations of, accordingly, the federal budget and the budgets of constituent entities of the Russian Federation. It is performed in the manner stipulated in this Federal Constitutional Law, other federal constitutional laws, federal laws, other normative legal acts of the Russian Federation, laws and other normative legal acts of constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

2. Abrogated

3. The financial support of activities of general jurisdiction courts of cassation, general jurisdiction courts of appeal, of supreme courts of republics, courts of territories, regions, federal cities, of a court of an autonomous region, courts of autonomous circuits, district courts, military and specialized courts is performed by the Judicial Department at the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

4. The financial support of activities of justices of the peace (except for the remuneration of labour of justices of the peace; social payments, stipulated for judges in federal laws; procurement of housing for justices of the peace in need of improvement of living conditions, performed through the bodies of the Judicial Department at the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation) is performed by executive bodies of the corresponding constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Article 7. Material and Technical Support of Activities of Courts of General Jurisdiction

1. The material and technical support of activities of federal courts of general jurisdiction is performed at the expense of budgetary allocations of the federal budget in the amount that guarantees full and independent justice.

2. Abrogated

3. The material and technical support of activities of federal courts of general jurisdiction is performed by the Judicial Department at the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

4. The material and technical support of activities of justices of the peace is performed at the expense of budgetary allocations of the budget of the corresponding constituent entity of the Russian Federation in the manner stipulated in the law of that constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

Chapter 2. The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation

Abrogated

Chapter 2.1. General Jurisdiction Courts of Cassation

Article 23.1. Manner of Establishment and Composition of a General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation

1. A general jurisdiction court of cassation is a federal court of general jurisdiction acting within the territory of the corresponding cassation court circuit.

2. Nine general jurisdiction courts of cassation act in the Russian Federation within the territories of the corresponding cassation court circuits:

1) The First General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation, exercising review of judicial acts adopted by the courts of the Republic of Mordovia, Belgorod Region, Bryansk Region, Voronezh Region, Kaluga Region, Kursk Region, Lipetsk Region, Oryol Region, Moscow Region, Nizhny Novgorod Region, Penza Region, Saratov Region, Tula Region, as well as of judicial acts of general jurisdiction courts of appeal, adopted in regard of appeals and prosecutor’s appeals against the judicial acts of the aforementioned courts;

2) The Second General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation, exercising review of judicial acts adopted by the courts of Vladimir Region, Ivanovo Region, Kostroma Region, Ryazan Region, Smolensk Region, Tambov Region, Tver Region, Yaroslavl Region, of the city of Moscow, as well as of judicial acts of general jurisdiction courts of appeal, adopted in regard of appeals and prosecutor’s appeals against the judicial acts of the aforementioned courts;

3) The Third General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation, exercising review of judicial acts adopted by the courts of the Republic of Karelia, the Republic of Komi, Arkhangelsk Region, Vologda Region, Kaliningrad Region, Leningrad Region, Murmansk Region, Novgorod Region, Pskov Region, of the city of Saint-Petersburg, of Nenets Autonomous Circuit, as well as of judicial acts of general jurisdiction courts of appeal, adopted in regard of appeals and prosecutor’s appeals against the judicial acts of the aforementioned courts;

4) The Fourth General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation, exercising review of judicial acts adopted by the courts of the Republic of Adygea (Adygea), the Republic of Kalmykia, the Republic of Crimea, Krasnodar Territory, Astrakhan Region, Volgograd Region, Rostov Region, the city of Sevastopol, as well as of judicial acts of general jurisdiction courts of appeal, adopted in regard of appeals and prosecutor’s appeals against the judicial acts of the aforementioned courts;

5) The Fifth General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation, exercising review of judicial acts adopted by the courts of the Republic of Dagestan, the Republic of Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Karachayevo-Cherkessian Republic, the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania, Chechen Republic, Stavropol Territory, as well as of judicial acts of general jurisdiction courts of appeal, adopted in regard of appeals and prosecutor’s appeals against the judicial acts of the aforementioned courts;

6) The Sixth General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation, exercising review of judicial acts adopted by the courts of the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Republic of Mari El, the Republic of Tatarstan (Tatarstan), Udmurtian Republic, Chuvashi Republic – Chuvashia, Kirov Region, Orenburg Region, Samara Region, Ulyanovsk Region, as well as of judicial acts of general jurisdiction courts of appeal, adopted in regard of appeals and prosecutor’s appeals against the judicial acts of the aforementioned courts;

7) The Seventh General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation, exercising review of judicial acts adopted by the courts of Perm Region, Kurgan Region, Sverdlovsk Region, Tyumen Region, Chelyabinsk Region, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Circuit – Yugra, Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Circuit, as well as of judicial acts of general jurisdiction courts of appeal, adopted in regard of appeals and prosecutor’s appeals against the judicial acts of the aforementioned courts;

8) The Eighth General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation, exercising review of judicial acts adopted by the courts of the Republic of Altai, the Republic of Buryatia, the Republic of Tyva, the Republic of Khakasia, Altai Territory, Transbaikal Territory, Krasnoyarsk Region, Irkutsk Region, Kemerovo Region, Novosibirsk Region, Omsk Region, Tomsk Region, as well as of judicial acts of general jurisdiction courts of appeal, adopted in regard of appeals and prosecutor’s appeals against the judicial acts of the aforementioned courts;

9) The Ninth General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation, exercising review of judicial acts adopted by the courts of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Kamchatka Territory, Primorye Territory, Khabarovsk Territory, Amur Region, Magadan Region, Sakhalin Region, Jewish Autonomous Region, Chukotka Autonomous Circuit, as well as of judicial acts of general jurisdiction courts of appeal, adopted in regard of appeals and prosecutor’s appeals against the judicial acts of the aforementioned courts.

3. In order to administer justice closer to the location or place of residence of persons participating in the case, who are located or reside in remote areas, a remote court office may be created within the composition of a general jurisdiction court of cassation outside of its permanent location by virtue of a federal law. The remote court office of a general jurisdiction court of cassation is a separate department of that court, exercising its powers.

Article 23.2. Competence of a General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation

1. In accordance with the jurisdiction stipulated in federal laws, a general jurisdiction court of cassation considers cases as a court of cassation, based on appeals and prosecutor’s appeals against effective judicial acts, as well as based on new or newly discovered facts, and exercises other powers in accordance with federal laws.

2. In accordance with Part 4 of Article 125 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation and in the manner stipulated in federal law, a general jurisdiction court of cassation addresses the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation with a request to check the constitutionality of a law subject to application in a specific case.

Article 23.3. Composition of a General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation

1. A general jurisdiction court of cassation acts in the composition of:

1) the presidium of the court;

2) the judicial chamber for civil cases;

3) the judicial chamber for administrative cases;

4) the judicial chamber for criminal cases.

Article 23.4. Presidium of a General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation

1. The presidium of a general jurisdiction court of cassation (hereinafter – the court presidium) is composed of the president and deputy presidents of the court, who are members of the presidium ex officio, and of other judges of the court.

2. The number of members is stipulated and the list of members of the court presidium is adopted by the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on proposal of the president of the corresponding court.

3. The court presidium:

1) on proposal of the court president establishes the panels of judges of the judicial chamber for civil cases, judicial chamber for administrative cases, judicial chamber for criminal cases, composed of the judges of the court;

2) considers materials regarding the study and generalization of judicial practice, analysis of judicial statistics;

3) considers issues pertaining to the work of the court staff;

4) exercises other powers in accordance with federal laws.

Article 23.5. Manner of Work of the Presidium of a General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation

1. Sessions of the court presidium are convened by the court president as deemed necessary.

2. A session of the court presidium is quorate, if it is attended by more than a half of the presidium members.

3. Rulings of the court presidium are adopted in open voting by a majority vote of the participating presidium members and signed by the judge presiding over the session of the court presidium.

Article 23.6. Judicial Chambers of a General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation

1. The judicial chamber for civil cases, judicial chamber for administrative cases, judicial chamber for criminal cases of a general jurisdiction court of cassation are formed from the ranks of judges of that court upon proposal of the court president. The panels of judges of those chambers are established by the court presidium.

2. The judicial chamber for civil cases, judicial chamber for administrative cases, judicial chamber for criminal cases of a general jurisdiction court of cassation are headed by chairpersons.

3. When necessary, the president of the general jurisdiction court of cassation may direct judges of one of the judicial chambers to consider cases as members of another judicial chamber.

4. The judicial chambers of a general jurisdiction court of cassation consider:

1) cases based on cassation appeals and prosecutor’s cassation appeals against effective judicial acts of district courts and justices of the peace, judicial acts of general jurisdiction courts of appeal, supreme courts of republics, courts of territories, regions, federal cities, of an autonomous region, autonomous circuits;

2) cases based on new or newly discovered facts regarding effective judicial acts adopted by the corresponding judicial chamber of the general jurisdiction court of cassation.

5. The judicial chambers of a general jurisdiction court of cassation study and generalize judicial practice, analyze judicial statistics.

Article 23.7. President of a General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation

1. The president of a general jurisdiction court of cassation is appointed for a six-year term by the President of the Russian Federation on proposal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, if there is a positive conclusion of the High Qualification Board of Judges of the Russian Federation. The age limit for presidents of general jurisdiction courts of cassation is 76 years.

2. Apart from exercising the powers of a judge of the corresponding court and other procedural powers in accordance with federal laws, the president of a general jurisdiction court of cassation performs the following functions:

1) organises the work of the court and directs the organisation of work of judicial chambers of the corresponding court;

2) stipulates the court’s internal regulations, based on the model internal regulations adopted by the Council of Judges of the Russian Federation, and monitors compliance therewith;

3) convenes the presidium of the court and presides over its sessions;

4) distributes duties among the deputy presidents and judges;

5) organises the further education of judges and members of the court staff;

6) organises the study and generalization of judicial practice, analysis of judicial statistics;

7) submits proposals to the High Qualification Board of Judges of the Russian Federation regarding the qualification attestation of judges of the corresponding general jurisdiction court of cassation, regarding the suspension or termination of their powers;

8) organises the work of the court regarding the reception of citizens and consideration of their suggestions, applications and complaints;

9) performs the general management of the court staff; in particular, appoints and dismisses members of the court staff, distributes duties among them, makes decisions regarding their commendation or disciplinary liability, organises the further education of members of the court staff;

10) informs the judges and members of the court staff about her/his activities and the activities of the court on a regular basis;

11) exercises other powers pertaining to the organisation of the work of the court.

3. In case of suspension or termination of powers of a president of a general jurisdiction court of cassation, the powers of the president are exercised by one of the deputy presidents (or, in case of absence of deputy presidents, by one of the judges of the court), according to the decision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

Article 23.8. Deputy Presidents of a General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation

1. Deputy presidents of a general jurisdiction court of cassation are appointed for six-year terms by the President of the Russian Federation on proposal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, if there is a positive conclusion of the High Qualification Board of Judges of the Russian Federation.

2. A person may be appointed deputy president of the same general jurisdiction court of cassation multiple times, but not more than two times in a row.

3. Apart from exercising the powers of judges of the corresponding court, deputy presidents of a general jurisdiction court of cassation:

1) manage the work of the corresponding judicial chambers as chairpersons of those chambers, in accordance with the distribution of duties;

2) preside at court sessions of the corresponding judicial chambers or appoint presiding judges from the ranks of judges of those chambers.

4. In case of absence of the president of the corresponding court, her/his powers are exercised by one of the deputy presidents, according to the president’s instructions.

Article 23.8-1. Special Features of Termination of Powers of the President, Deputy Presidents and Judges of a General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation

The powers of the president, deputy presidents and judges of a general jurisdiction court of cassation may be terminated by the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation upon proposal of the President of the Russian Federation, if they commit an act discrediting the honour and dignity of the judge, as well as in other situations stipulated in a federal constitutional law, demonstrating that it is impossible for the judge to exercise her/his powers.

Chapter 2.2. General Jurisdiction Courts of Appeal

Article 23.9. Manner of Establishment and Composition of a General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal

1. A general jurisdiction court of appeal is a federal court of general jurisdiction acting within the territory of the corresponding appellate court circuit.

2. Five general jurisdiction courts of appeal act in the Russian Federation within the territories of the corresponding appellate court circuits:

1) the First General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal, considering in appeal the cases based on appeals, prosecutor’s appeals against the judicial acts of Belgorod Region Court, Bryansk Region Court, Vladimir Region Court, Voronezh Region Court, Ivanovo Region Court, Kaliningrad Region Court, Kaluga Region Court, Kostroma Region Court, Kursk Region Court, Lipetsk Region Court, Moscow Region Court, Novgorod Region Court, Oryol Region Court, Pskov Region Court, Ryazan Region Court, Smolensk Region Court, Tambov Region Court, Tver Region Court, Tula Region Court, Yaroslavl Region Court, Moscow City Court;

2) the Second General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal, considering in appeal the cases based on appeals, prosecutor’s appeals against the judicial acts of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Karelia, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Komi, Arkhangelsk Region Court, Vologda Region Court, Kurgan Region Court, Leningrad Region Court, Murmansk Region Court, Sverdlovsk Region Court, Tyumen Region Court, Chelyabinsk Region Court, Saint-Petersburg City Court, Nenets Autonomous Circuit Court, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Circuit – Yugra Court, Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Circuit Court;

3) the Third General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal, considering in appeal the cases based on appeals, prosecutor’s appeals against the judicial acts of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Adygea (Adygea), the Supreme Court of the Republic of Dagestan, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Ingushetia, the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kalmykia, the Supreme Court of Karachayevo-Cherkessian Republic, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Crimea, the Supreme Court of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania, the Supreme Court of Chechen Republic, Krasnodar Territory Court, Stavropol Territory Court, Astrakhan Region Court, Volgograd Region Court, Rostov Region Court, Sevastopol City Court;

4) the Fourth General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal, considering in appeal the cases based on appeals, prosecutor’s appeals against the judicial acts of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Mari El, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Mordovia, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tatarstan (Tatarstan), the Supreme Court of Udmurtian Republic, the Supreme Court of Chuvashi Republic, Perm Region Court, Kirov Region Court, Nizhny Novgorod Region Court, Orenburg Region Court, Penza Region Court, Samara Region Court, Saratov Region Court, Ulyanovsk Region Court;

5) the Fifth General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal, considering in appeal the cases based on appeals, prosecutor’s appeals against the judicial acts of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Altai, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Buryatia, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tyva, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Khakasia, Altai Territory Court, Transbaikal Territory Court, Kamchatka Territory Court, Krasnoyarsk Territory Court, Primorye Territory Court, Khabarovsk Territory Court, Amur Region Court, Irkutsk Region Court, Kemerovo Region Court, Magadan Region Court, Novosibirsk Region Court, Omsk Region Court, Sakhalin Region Court, Tomsk Region Court, Jewish Autonomous Region Court, Chukotka Autonomous Circuit Court.

3. In order to administer justice closer to the location or place of residence of persons participating in the case, who are located or reside in remote areas, a remote court office may be created within the composition of a general jurisdiction court of appeal outside of its permanent location by virtue of a federal law. The remote court office of a general jurisdiction court of appeal is a separate department of that court, exercising its powers.

Article 23.10. Competence of a General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal

1. In accordance with the jurisdiction stipulated in federal laws, a general jurisdiction court of appeal considers cases as a court of appeal, based on appeals and prosecutor’s appeals against judicial acts of the supreme court of a republic, of a court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit that were adopted by those courts in first instance and have not yet entered into force, as well as cases based on new or newly discovered facts, and exercises other powers in accordance with federal laws.

2. In accordance with Part 4 of Article 125 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation and in the manner stipulated in federal law, a general jurisdiction court of appeal addresses the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation with a request to check the constitutionality of a law subject to application in a specific case.

Article 23.11. Composition of a General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal

1. A general jurisdiction court of appeal acts in the composition of:

1) the presidium of the court;

2) the judicial chamber for civil cases;

3) the judicial chamber for administrative cases;

4) the judicial chamber for criminal cases.

Article 23.12. Presidium of a General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal

1. The presidium of a general jurisdiction court of appeal (hereinafter in this Chapter – the court presidium) is composed of the president and deputy presidents of the court, who are members of the presidium ex officio, and of other judges of the court.

2. The number of members is stipulated and the list of members of the court presidium is adopted by the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on proposal of the president of the corresponding court.

3. The court presidium:

1) on proposal of the court president establishes the panels of judges of the judicial chamber for civil cases, judicial chamber for administrative cases, judicial chamber for criminal cases, composed of the judges of the court;

2) considers materials regarding the study and generalization of judicial practice, analysis of judicial statistics;

3) considers issues pertaining to the work of the court staff;

4) exercises other powers in accordance with federal laws.

Article 23.13. Manner of Work of the Court Presidium

1. Sessions of the court presidium are convened by the court president as deemed necessary.

2. A session of the court presidium is quorate, if it is attended by more than a half of the presidium members.

3. Rulings of the court presidium are adopted in open voting by a majority vote of the participating presidium members and signed by the judge presiding over the session of the court presidium.

Article 23.14. Judicial Chambers of a General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal

1. The judicial chamber for civil cases, judicial chamber for administrative cases, judicial chamber for criminal cases of a general jurisdiction court of appeal are formed from the ranks of judges of that court upon proposal of the court president. The panels of judges of those chambers are established by the court presidium.

2. The judicial chamber for civil cases, judicial chamber for administrative cases, judicial chamber for criminal cases of a general jurisdiction court of appeal are headed by chairpersons.

3. When necessary, the president of the general jurisdiction court of appeal may direct judges of one of the judicial chambers to consider cases as members of another judicial chamber.

4. The judicial chambers of a general jurisdiction court of appeal consider:

1) cases based on appeals and prosecutor’s appeals against judicial acts of the supreme court of a republic, of a court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit that were adopted by those courts in first instance and have not yet entered into force;

2) cases based on new or newly discovered facts regarding effective judicial acts adopted by the corresponding judicial chamber of the general jurisdiction court of appeal.

5. The judicial chambers of a general jurisdiction court of appeal study and generalize judicial practice, analyze judicial statistics.

Article 23.15. President of a General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal

1. The president of a general jurisdiction court of appeal is appointed for a six-year term by the President of the Russian Federation on proposal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, if there is a positive conclusion of the High Qualification Board of Judges of the Russian Federation.

2. Apart from exercising the powers of a judge of the corresponding court and other procedural powers in accordance with federal laws, the president of a general jurisdiction court of appeal performs the following functions:

1) organises the work of the court and directs the organisation of work of judicial chambers of the corresponding court;

2) stipulates the court’s internal regulations, based on the model internal regulations adopted by the Council of Judges of the Russian Federation, and monitors compliance therewith;

3) convenes the presidium of the court and presides over its sessions;

4) distributes duties among the deputy presidents and judges;

5) organises the further education of judges and members of the court staff;

6) organises the study and generalization of judicial practice, analysis of judicial statistics;

7) submits proposals to the High Qualification Board of Judges of the Russian Federation regarding the qualification attestation of judges of the corresponding general jurisdiction court of appeal, regarding the suspension or termination of their powers;

8) organises the work of the court regarding the reception of citizens and consideration of their suggestions, applications and complaints;

9) performs the general management of the court staff; in particular, appoints and dismisses members of the court staff, distributes duties among them, makes decisions regarding their commendation or disciplinary liability, organises the further education of members of the court staff;

10) informs the judges and members of the court staff about her/his activities and the activities of the court on a regular basis;

11) exercises other powers pertaining to the organisation of the work of the court.

3. In case of suspension or termination of powers of a president of a general jurisdiction court of appeal, the powers of the president are exercised by one of the deputy presidents (or, in case of absence of deputy presidents, by one of the judges of the court), according to the decision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

Article 23.16. Deputy Presidents of a General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal

1. Deputy presidents of a general jurisdiction court of appeal are appointed for six-year terms by the President of the Russian Federation on proposal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, if there is a positive conclusion of the High Qualification Board of Judges of the Russian Federation.

2. A person may be appointed deputy president of the same general jurisdiction court of appeal multiple times, but not more than two times in a row.

3. Apart from exercising the powers of judges of the corresponding court, deputy presidents of a general jurisdiction court of appeal:

1) manage the work of the corresponding judicial chambers as chairpersons of those chambers, in accordance with the distribution of duties;

2) preside at court sessions of the corresponding judicial chambers or appoint presiding judges from the ranks of judges of those chambers.

4. In case of absence of the president of the corresponding court, her/his powers are exercised by one of the deputy presidents, according to the president’s instructions.

Article 23.17. Special Features of Termination of Powers of the President, Deputy Presidents and Judges of a General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal

The powers of the president, deputy presidents and judges of a general jurisdiction court of appeal may be terminated by the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation upon proposal of the President of the Russian Federation, if they commit an act discrediting the honour and dignity of the judge, as well as in other situations stipulated in a federal constitutional law, demonstrating that it is impossible for the judge to exercise her/his powers.

Chapter 3. Supreme Courts of Republics, Courts of Territories, Regions,
Federal Cities, Court of an Autonomous Region, Courts of Autonomous Circuits

Article 24. Manner of Establishment and Composition of the Supreme Court of a Republic, Court of a Territory, Region, Federal City, Autonomous Region, Autonomous Circuit

1. The supreme court of a republic, a court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit is a federal court of general jurisdiction, acting within the territory of the corresponding constituent entity of the Russian Federation. Such a court is the immediate higher judicial body in regard of the district courts acting on the territory of the corresponding constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

2. The supreme court of a republic, the court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit acts in the composition of:

1) the presidium of the court;

2) the judicial chamber for civil cases;

3) the judicial chamber for administrative cases;

4) the judicial chamber for criminal cases.

3. In order to administer justice closer to the location or place of residence of persons participating in the case, who are located or reside in remote areas, a remote court office may be created within the composition of the supreme court of a republic, court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit outside of its permanent location by virtue of a federal law. The remote court office of the supreme court of a republic, court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit is a separate department of that court, exercising its powers.

Article 25. Competence of the Supreme Court of a Republic, Court of a Territory, Region, Federal City, Autonomous Region, Autonomous Circuit

1. In accordance with the rules of jurisdiction stipulated in federal laws, the supreme court of a republic, the court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit considers cases as a court of first instance or a court of appeal, as well as based on new or newly discovered facts, and also exercises other powers in accordance with federal laws.

2. In accordance with Part 4 of Article 125 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation and in the manner stipulated in federal law, the supreme court of a republic, the court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit addresses the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation with a request to check the constitutionality of a law subject to application in a specific case.

Article 26. Presidium of the Supreme Court of a Republic, Court of a Territory, Region, Federal City, Autonomous Region, Autonomous Circuit

1. The presidium of the supreme court of a republic, of a court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit (hereinafter – the court presidium) is composed of the president and deputy presidents of the court, who are members of the presidium ex officio, and of other judges of the corresponding court.

2. The number of members is stipulated and the list of members of the court presidium is adopted by the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on proposal of the president of the corresponding court.

3. The court presidium:

1) abrogated

2) on proposal of the court president establishes the panels of judges of the judicial chamber for civil cases, judicial chamber for administrative cases, judicial chamber for criminal cases, composed of the judges of the court;

3) annually, on proposal of the president of the supreme court of a republic, of a court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit, presents for the approval of the High Qualification Board of Judges of the Russian Federation the list(s) of members of a judicial chamber (of judicial chambers) of the corresponding court that will resolve the issues of administrative liability of judges of district courts and other issues stipulated in the Law of the Russian Federation on the status of judges in the Russian Federation;

4) considers materials regarding the study and generalization of judicial practice, analysis of judicial statistics;

5) hears the reports of chairpersons of judicial chambers regarding the activities of the chambers, considers issues pertaining to the work of the court staff;

6) exercises other powers in accordance with federal laws.

Article 27. Manner of Work of the Presidium of the Supreme Court of a Republic, Court of a Territory, Region, Federal City, Autonomous Region, Autonomous Circuit

1. Sessions of the court presidium are held at least twice a month.

2. A session of the court presidium is quorate, if it is attended by more than a half of the presidium members.

3. Rulings of the court presidium are adopted in open voting by a majority vote of the participating presidium members and signed by the judge presiding over the session of the court presidium.

4. Other issues regarding the manner of work of the court presidium are regulated by the rules of, accordingly, the supreme court of a republic, the court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit.

Article 28. Judicial Chambers of the Supreme Court of a Republic, Court of a Territory, Region, Federal City, Autonomous Region, Autonomous Circuit

1. The judicial chamber for civil cases, judicial chamber for administrative cases, judicial chamber for criminal cases of the supreme court of a republic, court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit are formed from the ranks of judges of that court in the composition of the court president and members of the corresponding judicial chambers. The panels of judges of those chambers are established by the court presidium.

2. When necessary, the president of, accordingly, the supreme court of a republic, the court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit may direct judges of one of the judicial chambers to consider cases as members of another judicial chamber.

3. The judicial chambers of the supreme court of a republic, court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit consider:

1) as courts of first instance – the cases referred by federal laws to the jurisdiction of the supreme court of a republic, the court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit;

2) as courts of appeal – cases based on appeals, prosecutor’s appeals against the judicial acts of district courts that were adopted by them in first instance and have not yet entered into force;

3) cases based on new or newly discovered facts regarding effective decisions adopted by the corresponding judicial chamber.

Article 29. President of the Supreme Court of a Republic, Court of a Territory, Region, Federal City, Autonomous Region, Autonomous Circuit

1. The president of the supreme court of a republic, of a court of territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit is appointed for a six-year term by the President of the Russian Federation on proposal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, if there is a positive conclusion of the High Qualification Board of Judges of the Russian Federation.

2. Abrogated

3. Apart from exercising the powers of a judge of the corresponding court and other procedural powers in accordance with federal laws, the president of the supreme court of a republic, court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit performs the following functions:

1) organises the work of the court and directs the organisation of work of judicial chambers of the corresponding court;

2) stipulates the court’s internal regulations, based on the model internal regulations adopted by the Council of Judges of the Russian Federation, and monitors compliance therewith;

3) convenes the presidium of the court and presides over its sessions;

4) distributes duties among the deputy presidents and judges;

5) organises the further education of judges and members of the court staff;

6) organises the study and generalization of judicial practice, analysis of judicial statistics;

7) submits proposals to the qualification board of judges of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation regarding the qualification attestation of judges of the corresponding supreme court of a republic, court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit, of presidents, deputy presidents and judges of district courts, of justices of the peace, as well as regarding the suspension or termination of their powers;

8) abrogated

9) organises the work of the court regarding the reception of citizens and consideration of their suggestions, applications and complaints;

10) organises the verification of citizens’ applications and complaints regarding the work of lower courts and of judges;

11) performs the general management of the court staff; in particular, appoints and dismisses members of the court staff, distributes duties among them, makes decisions regarding their commendation or disciplinary liability, organises the further education of members of the court staff;

12) informs the judges and members of the court staff about her/his activities and the activities of the court on a regular basis;

13) exercises other powers pertaining to the organisation of the work of the court.

4. In case of suspension or termination of powers of a court president, her/his powers are exercised by one of the deputy presidents (or, in case of absence of deputy presidents, by one of the judges of the court), according to the decision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

Article 30. Deputy Presidents of the Supreme Court of a Republic, Court of a Territory, Region, Federal City, Autonomous Region, Autonomous Circuit

1. Deputy presidents of the supreme court of a republic, court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit are appointed for six-year terms by the President of the Russian Federation on proposal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, if there is a positive conclusion of the High Qualification Board of Judges of the Russian Federation.

2. A person may be appointed deputy president of the same supreme court of a republic, court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit multiple times, but not more than two times in a row.

3. Apart from exercising the powers of judges of the corresponding court, deputy presidents of the supreme court of a republic, court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit:

1) manage the work of the corresponding judicial chambers and the activities of structural units of the court staff, in accordance with the distribution of duties;

2) may preside at court sessions of the corresponding judicial chambers of the court;

3) in case of absence of a chairperson of a judicial chamber for civil cases, administrative cases or criminal cases, exercise their powers, stipulated in Items 3 – 5 of Article 31 of this Federal Constitutional Law.

4. In case of absence of the president of the corresponding court, her/his powers are exercised by one of the deputy presidents, according to the president’s instructions.

Article 31. Chairpersons of Judicial Chambers of the Supreme Court of a Republic, Court of a Territory, Region, Federal City, Autonomous Region, Autonomous Circuit

Apart from exercising the powers of judges of the corresponding court, the chairpersons of judicial chambers for civil cases, administrative cases and criminal cases of the supreme court of a republic, court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit:

1) preside at the sessions of the corresponding judicial chambers or appoint the presiding judges from the ranks of members of the judicial chambers;

2) manage the work of the corresponding judicial chambers;

3) abrogated

4) present reports regarding the activities of the corresponding judicial chambers to the court presidium;

5) are entitled to request judicial cases from district courts for the purposes of study and generalization of judicial practice.

Chapter 4. District Court

Article 32. Establishment of a District Court

1. A district court is established by virtue of a federal law in a judicial district, the territory of which covers the territory of a district, city or another similar administrative-territorial unit of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

2. A district court may also be established in a judicial district, the territory of which covers the territories of several districts or other similar administrative-territorial units of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation that have common (adjoining) borders.

Article 33. Composition of a District Court

1. A district court is formed in the composition of a president of the district court, a deputy president (deputy presidents) and judges of the district court, appointed in the number that is sufficient to ensure the right of access to justice of citizens residing on the territory of the judicial district. This number is determined by the Judicial Department at the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation upon approval of the president of the corresponding supreme court of a republic, court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit, within the limits of the total number of judges of all federal courts of general jurisdiction, stipulated in the federal law on the federal budget for the next financial year and the planning period.

2. In order to administer justice closer to the location or place of residence of persons participating in the case, who are located or reside in remote areas, a remote court office may be created within the composition of a district court outside of its permanent location by virtue of a federal law. The remote court office of the district court is a separate department of that court, exercising its powers.

Article 34. Competence of a District Court

1. A district court considers, as a court of first instance, all criminal, civil and administrative cases, except for those referred to the jurisdiction of other courts by federal laws.

2. Where so stipulated in federal law, a district court considers cases on administrative offences.

3. A district court may, in accordance with Part 4 of Article 125 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, address the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation with a request to check the constitutionality of a law subject to application in a specific case.

4. A district court considers appeals, prosecutor’s appeals against decisions of justices of the peace acting on the territory of the corresponding judicial district.

5. A district court considers cases based on new or newly discovered facts in accordance with federal law.

Article 35. President, Deputy President of a District Court

1. The president of a district court and her/his deputy (deputies) are appointed for six-year terms by the President of the Russian Federation on proposal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, if there is a positive conclusion of the qualification board of judges of the corresponding constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

2. A person may be appointed president (deputy president) of the same district court multiple times, but not more than two times in a row.

3. Apart from exercising the powers of a judge and other procedural powers in accordance with federal laws, a president of a district court performs the following functions:

1) organises the work of the court;

2) stipulates the court’s internal regulations, based on the model internal regulations adopted by the Council of Judges of the Russian Federation, and monitors compliance therewith;

3) distributes duties among the deputy presidents and judges;

4) organises the further education of judges;

5) performs the general management of the court staff; in particular, appoints and dismisses members of the court staff, distributes duties among them, makes decisions regarding their commendation or disciplinary liability, organises the further education of members of the court staff;

6) informs the judges and members of the court staff about her/his activities and the activities of the court on a regular basis;

7) exercises other powers pertaining to the organisation of the work of the court.

4. Apart from exercising the powers of a judge, a deputy president (deputy presidents) of a district court performs the powers regarding the organisation of the work of the court in accordance with the distribution of duties by the president of the district court.

Article 36. Substitution of a Temporarily Absent President or Judge of a District Court

1. In case of absence of a president of a district court, her/his powers are exercised by one of the deputy presidents (or, in case of absence of deputy presidents, by one of the judges of the court), according to the president’s instructions.

2. If the powers of a president of a district court are suspended or terminated, her/his powers are exercised by one of the deputy presidents (or, in case of absence of deputy presidents, by one of the judges of the court), according to the decision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

3. If a judge of a district court is temporarily absent, and it is impossible to substitute that judge by a judge of the same court, the president of the higher court conveys the duties of that judge upon a judge of the nearest district court.

Chapter 5. Organisational Support of Activities of Courts of General Jurisdiction

Article 37. Bodies Providing Organisational Support for Activities of Courts of General Jurisdiction

1. Organisational support of activities of courts of general jurisdiction is a set of financial, personnel, material and technical, informational and other measures aimed at creating the conditions for the full and independent administration of justice.

2. Abrogated

3. Organisational support of activities of courts of general jurisdiction is provided by the Judicial Department at the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

4. Organisational support of activities of justices of the peace is provided by executive bodies of the corresponding constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the manner stipulated in the laws of the corresponding constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Article 38. Staff of a Court of General Jurisdiction

1. The organisational support of activities of a federal court of general jurisdiction in the administration of justice is performed by the staff of that court.

2. The general management of activities of the staff of a federal court of general jurisdiction is performed by the president of the corresponding court.

2.1. The direct management of activities of the staff of a general jurisdiction court of cassation, general jurisdiction court of appeal, of the supreme court of a republic, of a court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit is performed by the chief of staff – administrator of the corresponding court (hereinafter – chief of staff of a general jurisdiction court of cassation, general jurisdiction court of appeal, of a regional or equal court).

2.2. The chief of staff of a general jurisdiction court of cassation, general jurisdiction court of appeal, of a regional or equal court is appointed and dismissed by the president of the corresponding court and is directly subordinated to the president of that court. A person that has higher legal education is appointed to the position of the chief of staff of a general jurisdiction court of cassation, general jurisdiction court of appeal, of a regional or equal court.

2.3. The model duty regulations for a federal state civil servant occupying the position of the chief of staff – administrator of a general jurisdiction court of cassation, general jurisdiction court of appeal, of the supreme court of a republic, of a court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit in the federal state civil service are adopted by the Judicial Department at the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

3. The total number of staff members of the courts of general jurisdiction (excluding the transport, building security and maintenance staff) is stipulated in the federal law on the federal budget for the next financial year and the planning period and must ensure the possibility of the full and independent administration of justice.

4. The staff structure, the number of members of staff and the staff schedule of a court of general jurisdiction are stipulated by the president of the corresponding court upon approval of the Judicial Department at the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, within the limits of the total number of staff members of federal courts of general jurisdiction and the amount of budgetary allocations stipulated in the federal budget for the corresponding financial year and the planning period.

5. Abrogated

6. Members of staff of a federal court of general jurisdiction are federal state civil servants, occupying positions of the federal state civil service. Members of staff of a federal court of general jurisdiction may also occupy positions that are not positions of the federal state civil service.

7. The rights and duties of members of staff of a federal court of general jurisdiction, who are federal state civil servants, as well as the manner of their service in the federal state civil service, are stipulated in federal laws and other normative legal acts regarding the federal state service. The aforementioned staff members receive class ranks of the state civil service of the Russian Federation.

7.1. Members of staff of a federal court of general jurisdiction that have class ranks are provided with official uniform.

7.2. Wearing official uniform is obligatory for the members of staff of a federal court of general jurisdiction participating in court sessions, as well as engaged in direct (personal) interaction with citizens and representatives of organisations in performance of their duties pertaining to the organisation of court proceedings and organisational support of consideration of received addresses.

7.3. The manner and norms of providing the members of staff of a federal court of general jurisdiction having class ranks with official uniform, as well as the rules of wearing it are adopted by the Judicial Department at the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation with approval of the Council of Judges of the Russian Federation.

7.4. The technical description of specimen items of official uniform of members of staff of a federal court of general jurisdiction having class ranks is adopted by the Judicial Department at the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation with approval of the Council of Judges of the Russian Federation and the Heraldic Council of the President of the Russian Federation.

8. The rights and duties of members of staff of a federal court of general jurisdiction, who occupy positions that are not positions of the federal state civil service, are stipulated in the labour legislation of the Russian Federation.

9. The activities of a justice of the peace are supported by the justice’s staff. The structure and staff schedule of the staff of a justice of the peace are established in the manner stipulated in the laws of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation. Members of staff of a justice of the peace are state civil servants of the corresponding constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

Article 39. Functions of Staff of a Court of General Jurisdiction

1. The staff of a court of general jurisdiction:

1) receives and issues documents;

2) certifies copies of court documents;

3) performs the service of documents, notifications and subpoenas;

4) controls the payment of fees and levies;

5) performs organisational-preparatory actions related to appointment of cases for hearing;

6) assists the judges in drawing jurors to the administration of justice;

7) conducts the minutes of the court sessions;

8) registers the movement of cases and the time of their processing by the court;

9) hands over the court decisions for enforcement;

10) stores the cases and documents;

11) participates in the generalization of judicial practice data, collects judicial statistics, conducts information and reference work regarding the legislation of the Russian Federation and other work;

12) performs the reception of citizens.

2. The staff regulations for the federal courts of general jurisdiction are adopted by the Judicial Department at the Supreme Court of General Jurisdiction.

3. The regulations regarding the staff of justices of the peace are adopted in the manner stipulated in the laws of the corresponding constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Chapter 6. Closing Provisions

Article 40. Symbols of State Power in Courts of General Jurisdiction

1. The State Flag of the Russian Federation is displayed over buildings occupied by federal courts of general jurisdiction. The State Flag of the Russian Federation and an image of the State Coat of Arms of the Russian Federation are placed in courtrooms. The flag of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation may also be displayed over a building occupied by a court of general jurisdiction; the flag and an image of the coat of arms of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation may be placed in courtrooms.

2. Judges wear gowns during the administration of justice.

3. The State Flag of the Russian Federation and an image of the State Coat of Arms of the Russian Federation are placed in courtrooms of justices of the peace. The flag and image of the coat of arms of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation may be placed there as well.

4. During the administration of justice, a justice of the peace wears a gown and (or) has another distinguishing mark, stipulated in the law of the corresponding constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

Article 41. Seal and Legal Status of a Federal Court of General Jurisdiction

1. A federal court of general jurisdiction has a seal with its name and an image of the State Coat of Arms of the Russian Federation on it.

2. General jurisdiction courts of cassation, general jurisdiction courts of appeal, supreme courts of republics, courts of territories, regions, federal cities, a court of an autonomous region, courts of autonomous circuits have the rights of legal persons.

3. In regard of the district courts, the powers of a legal person are realized by the Judicial Department at the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

Article 42. Permanent Location of Federal Courts of General Jurisdiction

1. Abrogated

2. Abrogated

2.1. The permanent locations of general jurisdiction courts of cassation and of the Military Court of Cassation are:

1) for the First General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation – the city of Saratov, Saratov Region;

2) for the Second General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation – the city of Moscow;

3) for the Third General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation – the city of Saint-Petersburg;

4) for the Fourth General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation – the city of Krasnodar, Krasnodar Territory;

5) for the Fifth General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation – the city of Pyatigorsk, Stavropol Territory;

6) for the Sixth General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation – the city of Samara, Samara Region;

7) for the Seventh General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation – the city of Chelyabinsk, Chelyabinsk Region;

8) for the Eighth General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation – the city of Kemerovo, Kemerovo Region;

9) for the Ninth General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation – the city of Vladivostok, Primorye Territory;

10) for the Military Court of Cassation – the city of Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk Region.

2.2. The permanent locations of general jurisdiction courts of appeal and of the Appellate Military Court are:

1) for the First General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal – the city of Moscow;

2) for the Second General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal – the city of Saint-Petersburg;

3) for the Third General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal – the city of Sochi, Krasnodar Territory;

4) for the Fourth General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal – the city of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod Region;

5) for the Fifth General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal – the city of Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk Region;

6) for the Appellate Military Court – Vlasikha urban district, Moscow Region.

2.3. A general jurisdiction court of cassation, general jurisdiction court of appeal may hold its sessions in a different locality, if it so deems necessary.

3. The permanent location of the supreme court of a republic, court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit is the administrative centre of the corresponding constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

4. The permanent locations of the courts of federal cities of Moscow, Saint-Petersburg and Sevastopol are, accordingly, the cities of Moscow, Saint-Petersburg and Sevastopol.

5. The permanent location of Moscow Region Court and the permanent location of Leningrad Region Court are determined by the presidents of said courts with due regard to the opinion of executive bodies of, accordingly, Moscow Region and Leningrad Region.

6. The supreme court of a republic, the court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit may hold its sessions in a different locality, if it so deems necessary.

7. The permanent location of a district court is the district centre or another locality determined by the president of the supreme court of a republic, court of a territory, region, federal city, autonomous region, autonomous circuit with due regard to the opinion of executive bodies of the corresponding constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

8. A district court may hold its sessions in a different locality, if it so deems necessary.

9. The permanent location of a justice of the peace is stipulated in the law of the corresponding constituent entity of the Russian Federation with due regard to the opinion of the president of the district court.

Article 43. Abrogation of Certain Legislative Acts (Provisions of Legislative Acts) of the Russian Federation

1. From the day of entry of this Federal Constitutional Law into force, the following are abrogated:

-        Section I, Chapters 1-4, Articles 52, 53, Items 1, 2, 4-6 of Article 54, Articles 55-57, Items 1-4, 6 and 7 of Article 58, Articles 59-64, Items 1-9, 11 and 12 of Article 65, Articles 66 and 68, Section III, Article 77, Parts 1-4, 6 and 7 of Article 78 and Article 79 of the Law of the RSFSR “On Court Structure of the RSFSR” of 8 July 1981 (Gazette of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, 1981, No. 28, Art. 976);

-        Law of the Russian Federation “On Amendment of the Law of the RSFSR ‘On Court Structure of the RSFSR’, of the Criminal Procedure and Civil Procedure Codes of the RSFSR”, No. 2869-1 of 29 May 1992 (Gazette of the Congress of the People’s Deputies of the Russian Federation and of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation, 1992, No. 27, Art. 1560);

-        Law of the Russian Federation “On Amendment of the Criminal Procedure and Civil Procedure Codes of the RSFSR and of the Law of the RSFSR ‘On Court Structure of the RSFSR’”, No. 3200-1 of 3 July 1992 (Gazette of the Congress of the People’s Deputies of the Russian Federation and of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation, 1992, No. 30, Art. 1794);

-        Law of the Russian Federation “On Amendment of the Law of the RSFSR ‘On Court Structure of the RSFSR’, of the Criminal Procedure Code of the RSFSR, the Criminal Code of the RSFSR and the Code of the RSFSR on Administrative Offenses”, No. 5451-1 of 16 July 1993 (Gazette of the Congress of the People’s Deputies of the Russian Federation and of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation, 1993, No. 33, Art. 1313);

-        Federal Law “On Amendment of Articles 27, 32 and 61 of the Law of the RSFSR ‘On Court Structure of the RSFSR’, No. 50 of 28 November 1993 (Legislation Bulletin of the Russian Federation, 1994, No. 32, Art. 3300);

-        Article 2 of Federal Law “On Establishment and Disestablishment of District Courts of the City of Moscow and on Amendment of Article 21 of the Law of the RSFSR ‘On Court Structure of the RSFSR’”, No. 88 of 2 July 2003 (Legislation Bulletin of the Russian Federation, 2003, No. 27, Art. 2702);

-        Article 2 of Federal Law “On Amendment of Article 6.2 of the Law of the Russian Federation ‘On the Status of Judges in the Russian Federation’ and of Article 66 of the Law of the RSFSR ‘On Court Structure of the RSFSR’”, No. 83 of 7 May 2009 (Legislation Bulletin of the Russian Federation, 2009, No. 19, Art. 2273).

2. From 1 January 2013, the following are abrogated:

-        Law of the RSFSR “On Court Structure of the RSFSR” of 8 July 1981 (Gazette of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, 1981, No. 28, Art. 976);

-        Federal Law “On Amendment of the Law of the RSFSR ‘On Court Structure of the RSFSR’, of the Civil Procedure and Criminal Procedure Codes of the RSFSR”, No. 3 of 4 January 1999 (Legislation Bulletin of the Russian Federation, 1999, No. 1, Art. 5).

Article 44. Entry of This Federal Constitutional Law into Force

1. This Federal Constitutional Law enters into force after thirty days from its official publication.

2. Abrogated

3. Abrogated

4. From the day of entry of this Federal Constitutional Law into force, Item 5 of Article 58 (regarding the Presidium of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation and the Judicial Chambers of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation), Item 10 of Article 65 (regarding the Judicial Chambers and the staff of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation), Article 67 (regarding the Judicial Chambers of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation) and Part 5 of Article 78 (regarding the Judicial Chambers and sections of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation) of the Law of the RSFSR “On Court Structure of the RSFSR” of 8 July 1981 no longer apply.

5. From 1 January 2012 to 1 January 2013, the functions of the Cassation Chamber of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation regarding the consideration of criminal cases are performed by the Appellate Chamber of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

President of the Russian Federation
Dmitry Medvedev

Moscow, the Kremlin
7 February 2011

Federal Constitutional Law No. 1