 The
Russian judicial system consists of: the RF Supreme Court, republic supreme
courts, okrug courts, regional courts, Moscow and St.Petersburg city courts,
autonomous region courts, autonomous okrug courts, district (city) courts and
military courts. The RF Supreme Court is a higher judicial body dealing with
civil, criminal, administrative and other cases considered to be within their
authority by general jurisdiction courts supervising their activity.
The judicial system in Russia is structured according to two basic
principles, implying that decisions and sentences which did not come into force
can be appealed only once and only at the immediately superior court. Higher
courts’ decisions and sentences cannot be appealed or protested. In civil and
criminal cases there are courts of primary jurisdiction, courts of appeal and
higher courts, which arbitrate lower courts sentences and decisions already in
force.
Special courts — the Constitutional Court, whose authorities are
defined by the Constitution, and the Higher Court of Arbitration — play a
particular role in the exercising of judicial power in Russia.
98—99% of all civil and criminal cases are judged by general courts at the
lowest levels, called people’s (district and city) courts. They also judge
administrative offenses, complaints about unlawfulness and unfounded arrests and
implement courts’ decisions concerning property confiscation etc. There are
2,454 public (district or city) courts in Russia with 13,000 judges. 85 courts
of the RF (region, krai, and republic) with a staff of 2,800 judges constitute
the next link of general courts. They judge the most difficult cases, taken on
at their own initiative, cases where death sentences may be given. They also
regulate the lawfulness and validity of sentences and other public court
decisions which did not come into force.
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