Approved
by the State Duma
on April 5, 1995
Adopted
by the Federation Council
on April 12, 1995

Chapter I. General Provisions

Article 1. Arbitration Courts in the Russian Federation
Article 2. Legislation on Arbitration Courts in the Russian Federation
Article 3. The system of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation
Article 4. Administration of Justice by Arbitration Courts in the Russian Federation
Article 5. Primary Tasks of Arbitration Courts in the Russian Federation
Article 6. General Principles for the Activity of Arbitration Courts in the Russian Federation
Article 7. Binding Nature of Judicial Acts
Article 8. Judges of Arbitration Courts in the Russian Federation

Chapter II.  Authorities, and Procedure for Formation and Activity of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

Article 9.  The Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation
Article 10. Authorities of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation
Article 11. Composition of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation
Article 12. The Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation
Article 13. Authorities of the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation
Article 14. Procedure for the Work of the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation
Article 15. The Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation
Article 16. Authorities of the Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation
Article 17. Procedure for the Work of the Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation
Article 18. Court Collegiums of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation
Article 19. Court Staffs of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation
Article 20. The Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation
Article 21. Deputy Chairmen of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation
Article 22. Council of Chairmen of Arbitration Courts
Article 23. Scientific and Consultative Council under the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

Chapter III. Authorities, Procedure for Formation and Activity of Federal District Arbitration Courts

Article 24. Federal District Arbitration Courts
Article 25. Composition of Federal District Arbitration Courts
Article 26. Authorities of Federal District Arbitration Courts
Article 27. Presidiums of Federal District Arbitration Courts
Article 28. Authorities of Presidiums of Federal District Arbitration Courts
Article 29. Procedure for the Work of the Presidium of Federal District Arbitration Courts
Article 30. Court Collegiums of Federal District Arbitration Courts
Article 31. Court Staffs of Federal District Arbitration Courts
Article 32. Chairmen of Federal District Arbitration Courts
Article 33. Deputy Chairmen of Federal District Arbitration Courts

Chapter IV. Authorities and Procedure for the Formation and Activity of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation

Article 34. Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation
Article 35. Composition of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation
Article 36. Authorities of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation
Article 37. Presidiums of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation
Article 38. Authorities of Presidiums of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation
Article 39. Procedure for the Work of Presidiums of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation
Article 40. Court Collegiums of Arbitration Courts of the Russian Federation
Article 41. Court Staffs of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation
Article 42. Chairmen of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation
Article 43. Deputy Chairmen of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation

Chapter V. Concluding Provisions

Article 44. Organizational Support for the Activity of Arbitration Courts in the Russian Federation
Article 45. Administrations of Arbitration Courts
Article 46. Financing of Arbitration Courts
Article 47. Numbers, Structure and Staff Lists of Arbitration Courts
Article 48. International Relations
Article 49. Organ of the Press
Article 50. Stamp of the Arbitration Court
Article 51. Symbols of the Judicial Authority of the Arbitration Courts
Article 52.  Locations of Arbitration Courts

Chapter VI. Transitional Provisions
Chapter VII. Entry into Force of this Federal Constitutional Law

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UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

ON ARBITRATION COURTS
 IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Approved
by the State Duma
on April 5, 1995
Adopted
by the Federation Council
on April 12, 1995

Chapter I. General Provisions

Article 1.  Arbitration Courts in the Russian Federation

Arbitration courts in the Russian Federation are federal courts and are included in the court system of the Russian Federation.

Article 2. Legislation on Arbitration Courts in the Russian Federation

1. In accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, legislation on arbitration courts falls under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation.
2. The authorities and procedure for the formation and activity of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation are established by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the federal constitutional law on the court system, this Federal Constitutional Law and other federal constitutional laws.
The procedure for judicature at arbitration courts in the Russian Federation is determined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, this Federal Constitutional Law, the Arbitration Procedure Code of the Russian Federation and other federal laws applicable in accordance therewith.

Article 3.  The system of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation

The system of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation comprises:
the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation;
federal district arbitration courts;
arbitration courts of republics, krais, oblasts, cities of federal significance, the autonomous oblast, and autonomous okrugs (hereinafter – arbitration courts of the Russian Federation).

Article 4. Administration of Justice by Arbitration Courts in the Russian Federation

Arbitration courts in the Russian Federation shall administer justice by way of resolving economic disputes and examining other cases assigned to their competence by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, this Federal Constitutional Law, the Arbitration Procedure Code of the Russian Federation, and other federal laws adopted in accordance therewith.

Article 5. Primary Tasks of Arbitration Courts in the Russian Federation

The primary tasks of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation when examining disputes under their jurisdiction are:
the defense of violated rights and lawful interests of enterprises, institutions and organizations (hereinafter – organizations) and citizens in the sphere of entrepreneurial and other economic activity;
assisting in reinforcing lawfulness and preventing violations in the sphere of entrepreneurial and other economic activity.

Article 6. General Principles for the Activity of Arbitration Courts in the Russian Federation

The activity of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation shall be built on the principles of the rule of law, the independence of judges, equality of organizations and citizens before the law and the court, adversarial proceedings, and the equality of the parties, and openness in the proceedings of cases.

Article 7.  Binding Nature of Judicial Acts

Judicial acts which have entered into lawful force – decisions, rulings and decrees of arbitration courts – shall be binding for all state bodies, bodies of local self-government, other bodies, organizations, officials and citizens and are subject to execution in the entire territory of the Russian Federation.

Article 8.  Judges of Arbitration Courts in the Russian Federation

1. The Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation is appointed to the post by the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation upon a submission from the President of the Russian Federation.
Deputy Chairmen of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation and other judges of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall be appointed to their posts by the Federation Council upon a submission from the President of the Russian Federation, based upon a submission from the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.
2. Chairmen, deputy chairmen, judges of federal district arbitration courts and arbitration courts of constituent entities of the Russian Federation shall be appointed to their posts in accordance with the procedure established by federal law.
3. No person may be nominated for appointment to the post of judge with the consent of the corresponding qualification collegium of judges.
The termination of the authorities of a judge shall be permitted only upon a decision from the corresponding qualification collegium of judges.

Chapter II.  Authorities, and Procedure for Formation and Activity of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

Article 9.  The Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

The Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation is the supreme judicial body for the resolution of economic disputes and other cases examined by arbitration courts shall carry out in the procedural forms envisaged by law the judicial supervision of their activity and give clarifications on questions concerning judicial practice.

Article 10.  Authorities of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

1. The Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation:
1) examines in the first instance:
cases to have declared invalid (in full or in part) non-normative acts of the President of the Russian Federation, the Federation Council and the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation or the Government of the Russian Federation which do not conform to law or violate the rights and lawful interests of organizations and citizens;
economic disputes between the Russian Federation and constituent entities of the Russian Federation, or between constituent entities of the Russian Federation;
2) examines cases through oversight procedures concerning protests to judicial acts of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation which have entered into lawful force;
3) reviews on the basis of newly discovered circumstances judicial acts which it has adopted and which have entered into lawful force;
4) petitions the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation with requests to verify the constitutionality of the laws, other normative acts and agreements specified in part 2 of Article 125 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation;
petitions the Supreme Court with requests to verify the constitutionality of a law applicable or subject to application in a case examined thereby in any instance;
5) studies and summarizes the practice of the application by arbitration courts of laws and other normative legal acts regulating relations in the sphere of entrepreneurial or other economic activity, gives clarifications on questions of judicial practice;
6) develops proposals for the improvement of laws and other normative legal acts which regulate relations in the sphere of entrepreneurial and other economic activity;
7) keeps court statistics and organizes work for the keeping thereof at arbitration courts;
8) implements measures to establish conditions for the judicial activity of arbitration courts, including for their staff, organizational, material and technical and other types of support;
9) decides within the scope of his competence questions arising from international agreements of the Russian Federation;
10) exercises other authorities granted to it by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, this Federal Constitutional Law and other federal constitutional laws.
2. The Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall have the right of legislative initiative for questions within its competence.
3. For questions concerning the internal activity of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation and interrelations between them, the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall adopt the rules which are binding for arbitration courts in the Russian Federation.

Article 11. Composition of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

The Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall act with the following composition:
The Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation;
The Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation;
the judicial collegium for the examination of disputes arising from violations of civil and other law;
judicial collegium for the examination of disputes arising from administrative law violations.

Article 12. The Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

1. The Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall decide the most important questions concerning the activity of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation.
2. The Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall act in the composition consisting of the Chamber of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, Deputy Chairmen and judges of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.
3. Deputies (members) of the Federation Council and deputies of the State Duma, the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, the Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation, and chairmen of arbitration courts shall have the right to take part at sessions of the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.  Upon an invitation from the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, judges of arbitration courts, representatives of federal bodies of state authority, bodies of state authority of constituent entities of the Russian Federation, scientific institutions, other organizations and citizens may take part in sessions of the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.

Article 13. Authorities of the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

1. The Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation:
1) examines materials from the study and summarization of the practice of the application of laws and other normative legal acts by arbitration courts and gives clarifications on questions concerning judicial practice;
2) decides questions whether to use/concerning the use of legislative initiative;
3) decides questions concerning petitioning the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation with requests to verify the constitutionality of laws, other normative legal acts and agreements;
4) elects, up on the submission from the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, the secretary of the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, from among the judges of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation;
5) approves, upon a submission from the Chairman of the Supreme of the Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, of members of judicial collegia and chairmen of court compositions of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation;
6) approves, in accordance with the procedure stipulated in this Federal Constitution Law, permanent locations of federal district arbitration courts;
7) approves, upon a submission from the chairman of a federal district arbitration court, the judges for the federal district arbitration court who are included in the composition of the presidium of the federal district arbitration court;
8) approves, upon a submission from the chairman of an arbitration court of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation of judges of the arbitration court of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation which are included in the composition of the presidium of the arbitration court of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation;
9) approves, upon a submission of the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, the rules for arbitration courts;
10) decides other questions concerning the organization and activity of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation in accordance with this Federal Constitutional Law.
2. For questions within its mandate the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall adopt decrees which are binding for arbitration courts in the Russian Federation.

Article 14. Procedure for the Work of the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

1. The Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall be convened by the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation when necessary, but not less frequently than twice per year.
2. The Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation is authorized to decide questions with two-thirds of its composition.
2. Rulings of the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall be adopted through open voting by a majority of votes of the total number of the Plenum members present.
4. Ruling of the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall be signed by the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation and the secretary of the Plenum.

Article 15. The Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

1. The Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall act with the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, Deputy Chairmen of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation and chairmen of court compositions of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.
2. Upon a decision of the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, judges of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation may be introduced to the composition of the Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.
3. The Prosecutor General of the Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court may participate in sessions of the Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.  Upon an invitation of the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, the Minster of Justice of the Russian Federation, chairmen, deputy chairmen and judges of arbitration courts and other persons may participate in sessions.

Article 16. Authorities of the Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

The Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation:
examines cases through oversight procedures on the basis of protests against judicial acts of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation which have entered into lawful force;
examines certain questions concerning court practice and information arbitration courts in the Russian Federation of the results of the examination.

Article 17. Procedure for the Work of the Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

1. The Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall be convened by the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation as and when necessary.
2. The Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation is authorized to decide issues in the presence of a majority of the members of the Presidium.
3. Rulings of the Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall be adopted with open voting by a majority of votes of the total number of Presidium members present and shall be signed by the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.  Members of the Presidium shall not have the right to refrain from voting.

Article 18.  Court Collegia of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

1. At the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation court collegia shall be formed from among the judges of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, which shall be approved by the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation upon a submission from the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.
2. Court collegia of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall be headed by chairmen who are Deputy Chairmen of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.
3. The Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, where necessary, shall have the right to use a directive to attract judges of one court collegium for the examination of cases in the composition of another court collegium.
4. Court collegia of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall examine cases in the first instance, study and summarize judicial practice, draft proposals to improve laws and other normative legal acts, analyze court statistics, as well as exercise other authorities envisaged by the rules of arbitration courts.

Article 19. Court Staffs of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

1. Court staffs shall be formed in the court collegia of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation from among the judges in the corresponding collegia.
2. Court staffs shall be formed by the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.
3. Court staffs shall be headed by chairmen who are approved by the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.

Article 20. The Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

1. The Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation is a judge and exercises the procedural authorities established in the Arbitration Procedure Code of the Russian Federation.
2. The Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation:
1) organizes the activity of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation and the systems of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation;
2) convenes the Plenum and Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation and presides at its sessions, and also submits for consideration by the Plenum and Presidium issues assigned by this Federal Constitutional Law to their competence;
3) carries out the general management of the administration of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, appoints and dismisses employees of the administration of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation;
4) distributes obligations among Deputy Chairmen of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation;
5) forms from among the judges of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation court staffs of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation;
6) submits for discussion by the Council of Chairmen of Arbitration Courts questions which are assigned by this Federal Constitutional Law to its competence;
7) represents the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation in relations with state, public and other bodies;
8) exercises other authorities granted to it by this Federal Constitutional Law.
The Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation issues orders and directives.
3. The Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall have the right to take part in sessions of the Federation Council and the State Duma, their committees and commissions, and the Government of the Russian Federation.

Article 21. Deputy Chairmen of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

1. Deputy Chairmen of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the RF are judges and exercise the procedural authorities established by the Arbitration Procedural Code of the Russian Federation.
2. Deputy Chairmen of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, in accordance with the distribution of obligations, shall head court collegia, organize the activity of structural subdivisions of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation and the system of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation.
3. In the event of the absence of the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, his/her authorities shall be exercised b the First Deputy Chairman, and in the absence of the First Deputy – one of the Deputy Chairmen.
4. Deputy Chairmen of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall have the right to take part in sessions of the Federation Council and State Duma, their committees and commissions, the Government of the Russian Federation.

Article 22. Council of Chairmen of Arbitration Courts

1. A Council of Chairmen of Arbitration Courts consisting of the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation and the chairmen of the arbitration courts in the Russian Federation shall operate under the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.  Sessions of the Council shall be conducted as and when necessary.
2. The Council of Chairmen of Arbitration Courts shall be a consultative body which considers questions concerning the organizational, personnel and financial activity of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation.
3. In order to implement decisions of the Council of Chairmen of Arbitration Courts the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall issue orders and directives.

Article 23. Scientific and Consultative Council under the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation

1. In order to prepare scientifically substantiated recommendations on questions connected with the establishment of the practice of the application of laws and other normative legal acts and with the development of proposals for the improvement thereof, a Scientific-Consultative Council shall operate under the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.
2. The composition of the Scientific-Consultative Council and the statute thereon shall be approved by the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.

Chapter III. Authorities, Procedure for Formation and Activity of Federal District Arbitration Courts

Article 24. Federal District Arbitration Courts

1. Federal district arbitration courts shall be courts for the verification in the cassation instance of the lawfulness of decisions of arbitration courts of constituent entities of the Russian Federation adopted thereby in the first and appellate instances.
2. The following shall operate in the Russian Federation:

[LIST OF COURT DISTRICTS EXCLUDED FROM TRANSLATION]

3. The composition of court districts may be changed by federal law.

Article 25. Composition of Federal District Arbitration Courts

Federal district arbitration courts shall act in the following composition:
the presidium of the federal district arbitration court;
judicial collegium for the examination of disputes arising from civil and other legal relations;
judicial collegium for the examination of disputes arising from administrative legal relations.

Article 26. Authorities of Federal District Arbitration Courts

A federal district arbitration court:
verifies in the cassation instance the lawfulness of judicial acts for cases examined by arbitration courts of constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the first and appellate instances;
reviews on the basis of newly discovered circumstances judicial acts which were adopted thereby and have entered into lawful force;
petitions the Constitutional  Court of the Russian Federation with a request to verify the constitutionality of a law applied or applicable in a case being examined thereby;
studies and summarizes judicial practice;
prepares proposals for the improvement of laws and other normative legal acts;
analyzes judicial statistics.

Article 27. Presidiums of Federal District Arbitration Courts

The presidium of a federal district arbitration court shall operate in the composition of the chairman of the federal district arbitration court, his deputies, chairmen of court staffs and judges.
Judges of a federal district arbitration courts including in the composition of a federal district arbitration court, shall be approved by the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation upon a submission from the chairman of the federal district arbitration court.

Article 28. Authorities of Presidiums of Federal District Arbitration Courts

The presidium of a federal district arbitration court:
approves, upon a submission from the chamber of the federal district arbitration court, members of judicial collegia and chairmen of the judicial staffs of that court.
examines other questions concerning the organization of the work of the court;
examines questions of judicial practice.

Article 29 Procedure for the Work of the Presidium of Federal District Arbitration Courts

1. The presidium of a federal district arbitration court shall be convened by the chairman of that court as and when necessary.
2. The presidium of a federal district arbitration court is authorized to resolve questions in the presence of the majority of members of the presidium.
3. Rulings of the presidium of a federal district arbitration court shall be adopted by open voting with a majority of votes of the total number of the presidium members present and shall be signed by the chairman of the federal district arbitration court.  Members of the presidium shall not have the right to abstain from voting.

Article 30. Court Collegia of Federal District Arbitration Courts

1. At federal district arbitration courts court collegia shall be established which shall be approved by the presidium of the court from among the judges of that court upon a submission from the chairman of the court.
2. Judicial collegia shall be headed by the chairmen or deputy chairmen of the court.
3. The chairman of a court shall, where necessary, have the right by his directive to attract judges from one court collegium to another court collegium.
4.  Court collegia of a federal district arbitration court shall verify in the cassation instance the legality of judicial acts which have entered into lawful force, for cases examined by arbitration courts of subjects of the Russian Federation in the first and appellate instances, study and summarize court practice, develop proposals for the improvement of laws and other normative legal acts, analyze court statistics, as well as exercise other authorities envisaged by the regulations of arbitration courts.

Article 31.  Court Structures of Federal District Arbitration Courts

1. At court collegia of a federal arbitration court court structures may be formed from among the judges included in a corresponding collegium.
2. Court structures shall be formed by the chairman of the federal district arbitration court.
3. A court structure shall  be headed by a chairman, approved by the presidium of the federal district arbitration court.

Article 32. Chairmen of Federal District Arbitration Courts

1. The chairman of a federal district arbitration court shall be a judge and shall exercise the procedural authorities established by the Arbitration Procedure Code of the Russian Federation.
2. A chairman of a federal district arbitration court shall:
1) organize the activity of federal district arbitration courts;
2) assign duties among deputy chairmen of the federal district arbitration court;
3) form from among the judges of the federal district arbitration court court structures;
4) convene the presidium of the federal district arbitration court and preside at its sessions, and hand down for consideration by the presidium issues classified by this Federal Constitutional Law as under the competence of the presidium;
5) carry out the general management of the administration of the federal district arbitration court, appoint to and dismiss from posts employees of the court's administration;
6) represent the federal district arbitration court in relations with state, public and other bodies;
7) exercise other authorities established by this Federal Constitutional Law.
The chairman of a federal district arbitration court shall issue orders and directives.

Article 33. Deputy Chairmen of Federal District Arbitration Courts

1. Deputy chairmen of a federal district arbitration court shall be judges and exercise the procedural authorities established by the Arbitration Procedure Code of the Russian Federation.
2. Deputy chairmen of federal district arbitration courts shall in accordance with the assignment of duties head court collegia, and organize the activity of structural subdivisions of the court's administration.
3. In the event of the absence of the chairman of a federal district arbitration court, his authorities shall be exercised by the first deputy chairman, and in the absence of the first deputy – by one of the deputy chairmen.

Chapter IV. Authorities and Procedure for the Formation and Activity of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation

Article 34. Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation

1. Arbitration courts of republics, krais, oblasts, cities of federal significance, the autonomous oblast and autonomous okrugs shall operate in constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
2.  One arbitration court may exercise judicial authority in the territories of several constituent entities of the Russian Federation.  Several arbitration courts may exercise judicial authority in the territory of one constituent entity of the Russian Federation.
3. Arbitration courts in the Russian Federation shall be established by federal law.

Article 35. Composition of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation

A presidium shall operate at arbitration courts of constituent entities of the Russian Federation.  Court collegia may be formed at arbitration courts for the examination of disputes arising from civil and other legal relations, and for the examination of disputes arising from administrative law violations.

Article 36. Authorities of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation

Arbitration courts of constituent entities of the Russian Federation:
1) examine in the first instance all cases under the jurisdiction of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation, with the exception of cases classified as under the competence of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.
2) examine in the appellate instance for a second time cases examined in that court in the first instance;
3) reexamine based on newly discovered circumstances judicial acts which have entered into force and were adopted thereby;
4) petition the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation with requests to verify the constitutionality of a law applied or subject to application in a case examined thereby in any instance;
5) study and summarize court practice;
6) prepare proposals for the improvement of laws and other normative legal acts;
7) analyze court statistics.

Article 37. Presidiums of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation

The presidium of an arbitration court of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation shall operate composed of a chairman of that court, his deputies, chairmen of court structures and judges.
Judges of arbitration courts of the Russian Federation included in the presidium of that court shall be approved by the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation upon a submission from the chairman of the arbitration court of the subject of the Russian Federation.

Article 38. Authorities of Presidiums of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation

The presidium of an arbitration court of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation shall:
approve, upon a submission from the chairman of the court, members of court collegia and chairmen of court structures of that court;
examine other questions concerning the organization of the work of the court;
examine questions concerning court practice.

Article 39. Procedure for the Work of Presidiums of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation

1. The presidium of an arbitration court of a subject of the Russian Federation shall be convened by the chairman of that court as and when necessary.
2. The presidium of an arbitration court of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation shall be authorized to decide questions in the presence of a majority of members of the presidium.
3. Decrees of a presidium of an arbitration court of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation shall be adopted by open voting with a majority of votes of the total number of members of the presidium present and shall be signed by the chairman of the arbitration court of the Russian Federation.  Members of the presidium shall not have the right to abstain from voting.

Article 40. Court Collegia of Arbitration Courts of the Russian Federation

1. Court collegia may be established at arbitration courts of constituent entities of the Russian Federation, which shall be approved by the presidium of the court from among the judges of that court upon a submission from the chairman of the court.
2. Court collegia shall be headed by chairmen or deputy chairmen of the court.
3. The chairman of a court shall, where necessary, have the right by his directive to attract judges from one court collegium for the examination of cases in the composition of another court collegium.
4. Court collegia of an arbitration court of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation shall examine in the first and appellate instances all cases under the jurisdiction of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation, with the exception of cases classified as under the competence of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, study and summarize court practice, develop proposals for the improvement of laws and other normative legal acts, analyze court statistics, as well as exercise other authorities envisaged by the regulations of arbitration courts.

Article 41. Court Structures of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation

1. Court structures shall be formed at arbitration courts of constituent entities of the Russian Federation from among the judges included in the corresponding court collegium, and in the absence of court collegia – from among the judges of that court.
2. Court structures shall be formed by the chairman of the arbitration court of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation.
3. A court structure shall be headed by a chairman approved by the presidium of the arbitration court of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

Article 42. Chairmen of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation

1. The chairman of an arbitration court of constituent entity of the Russian Federation shall be a judge and exercise the procedural authorities established by the Arbitration Procedure Code of the Russian Federation.
2. The chairman of an arbitration court of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation shall:
1) organize the activity of the arbitration court of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation;
2) assign duties among his deputies;
3) form court structures;
4) convene the presidium of the arbitration court of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation and preside at its sessions, as well as hand down for the consideration of the presidium questions classified by this Federal Constitutional Law as under the competence of the presidium;
5) carry out the general management of the administration of the arbitration court of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation, appoint to and dismiss from posts employees of the administration of the court;
6) represent the arbitration court of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation in relations with state, public and other bodies;
7) exercise other authorities established by this Federal Constitutional Law.
The chairman of an arbitration court of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation shall issue orders and directives.
3. The chairman of an arbitration court of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation shall have the right to take part in sessions of bodies of state authority of the corresponding constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

Article 43. Deputy Chairmen of Arbitration Courts of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation

1. Deputy chairmen of arbitration courts of constituent entities of the Russian Federation shall be judges and exercise the procedure authorities established by the Arbitration Procedure Code of the Russian Federation.
2. Deputy chairmen of arbitration courts of constituent entities of the Russian Federation shall in accordance with the assignment of duties head court collegia, and organize the activity of structural subdivisions of the administration of the arbitration court.
3. In the event of the absence of the chairman of an arbitration court of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation, his authorities shall be exercised by the first deputy chairman, and in the absence of the first deputy – by one of the deputy chairmen.

Chapter V. Concluding Provisions

Article 44. Organizational Support for the Activity of Arbitration Courts in the Russian Federation

1. Organizational support of activity of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation shall be carried out by the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.
2. The Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall carry out the selection and training of candidates for judge, organize work to improve the qualifications of judges and employees of the administrations of arbitration courts, carry out the financial of arbitration courts, and effect control over the expenditure of financial funds allocated to arbitration courts.
3. Federal bodies of executive authority and bodies of executive authority of constituent entities of the Russian Federation must render assistance to the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation in the organizational support of the activity of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation.
4. Material-technical supply and provision of official premises of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation, as well as medical, residential and social-household services for judges and employees of administrations of arbitration courts shall be carried out by the corresponding body of executive authority for the location of the arbitration court at the expense of the funds of the federal budget.

Article 45. Administrations of Arbitration Courts

1. Activity of the arbitration court shall be supported by the administration of the arbitration court.
2. The administration of the arbitration court shall:
1) organize preliminary pre-judicial reception of persons participating in a case;
2) adopt and issue documents, certify copies of documents of the arbitration court, send and serve documents, verify payment of state duty, court costs payable to the deposit account of the arbitration court, as well as arbitration fines;
3) assist courts in the preparation of cases for examination at court sessions;
4) maintain records of the movement of cases and times for their hearing in arbitration court, carry out the storage of cases and documents;
5) study and summarize court practice;
6) prepare proposals on the improvement of laws and other normative legal acts, conduct informational-reference work;
7) keep statistical accounting in the sphere of the activity of the arbitration court;
8) carry out material-technical support of the arbitration court, social-household servicing of courts and employees of the administration of the arbitration court.
3. Employees of the administration of an arbitration court shall be in federal state service.  The rights, duties and responsibility of employees of the administration of the arbitration court and conditions for their state service shall be established by the laws and other normative legal acts on federal state service.

Article 46. Financing of Arbitration Courts

1. Financing of arbitration courts shall be effected using the funds of the federal budget and must ensure the possibility of full and independent administration of justice in accordance with federal law.
2. Expenses for the maintenance of arbitration courts shall be envisaged as a separate line-item in the federal budget.
3. Th amount of expenses for the maintenance of federal district arbitration courts and arbitration courts of constituent entities of the Russian Federation shall be established by the Supreme Arbitration  Court of the Russian Federation with account taken of the opinion of the Council of Chairmen of Arbitration Courts.

Article 47. Numbers, Structure and Staff Lists of Arbitration Courts

1. The total number of judges and employees of administrations of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation, including judges and employees of the administration of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, shall be established by federal law.
2. The number of judges and employees of administrations of federal district arbitration courts and arbitration courts of constituent entities of the Russian Federation shall be established by the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation within the bounds of the total number of judges and employees of administrations of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation.
3. The structure and staff list of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall be approved by the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.
4. The structure and staff list of federal district arbitration courts and arbitration courts of constituent entities of the Russian Federation shall be approved by the chairman of the corresponding arbitration court.

Article 48. International Relations

Arbitration courts shall carry out international relations in accordance with the established procedure.

Article 49. Organ of the Press

The organ of the press of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation is the Vestnik of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.

Article 50. Stamp of the Arbitration Court

The arbitration court is a legal entity and shall have a stamp with its name and the image of the State Coat of Arms of the Russian Federation.

Article 51. Symbols of the Judicial Authority of the Arbitration Courts

1. At buildings occupied by arbitration courts the State Flag of the Russian Federation shall be raised.
2. The hall for sessions of arbitration courts shall bear the image of the State Coat of Arms of the Russian Federation and the State Flag of the Russian Federation.
3. Judges of arbitration courts shall administer justice in robes.

Article 52.  Locations of Arbitration Courts

1. The permanent location of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall be the capital of the Russian Federation – the city of Moscow.
2. The permanent location of federal district arbitration courts shall be determined by the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation upon a submission from the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, agreed with the bodies of executive authority of constituent entities of the Russian Federation located in the territory of the corresponding court district, and in the event that agreement is not reached between the participants – upon the submission of the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.
3. The permanent location of arbitration courts of constituent entities of the Russian Federation shall be the administrative center of the corresponding constituent entity of the Russian Federation.
4. Judges of arbitration courts shall reside at the permanent location of the corresponding arbitration courts.

Chapter VI. Transitional Provisions

1. Within three months from the date of the entry into force of this Federal Constitutional Law, the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall determine the permanent location of federal district arbitration courts.
2. The collegium of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation for the verification through oversight procedures the lawfulness and substantiation of arbitration courts' decisions which have entered into lawful force, shall act until the end of the examination of all protests lodged with it until the entry into force of this Federal Constitutional Law.
3. Arbitration courts of republics shall examine, in accordance with the authorities previously granted to them applications received to the court to lodge protests and protests lodged prior to the entry into force of this Federal Constitutional Law.
4. Judges of all arbitration courts who were elected (appointed) to their posts prior to the entry into force of this Federal Constitutional Law shall retain their powers as judges until the expiry of the term for which they were elected (appointed).
Chairmen of court collegia which operated prior to the entry into the force of this Federal Constitutional Law of all arbitration courts shall retain their powers as judges of the corresponding courts until the expiry of the term for which they were elected.
5. The Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation shall present to the President of the Russian Federation in accordance with the established procedure candidatures for the appointment of posts of chairmen, deputy chairmen and judges of federal district arbitration courts.
Until the formation of a qualifying collegium for a federal district arbitration court, the section of the arbitration courts of the Supreme Qualification Collegium of Judges of the Russian Federation shall present conclusions to the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation on the possibility of the appointment by the President of the Russian Federation to the posts of chairman, deputy chairmen and judges of the federal district arbitration court.
6. The federal district arbitration courts envisaged in Article 24 of this Federal Constitutional Law shall be formed not later than January 1, 1996.
In 1995 the total number of employees of administrations of arbitration courts in the Russian Federation shall be increased by 500 persons and in 1996 the total number of judges of arbitration courts of the Russian Federation shall be increased by 500 persons.
The Government of the Russian Federation shall stipulate in draft federal budgets for 1995 and 1996 the allocation to the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation additional assignations for the support of arbitration courts on the basis of the increase in the number of judges by 500 persons and the increase in the number of employees of administrations of arbitration courts by 500 persons.

Chapter VII. Entry into Force of this Federal Constitutional Law

1. This Federal Constitutional Law shall enter into force on July 1, 1995.
2. From the day of the entry into force of this Federal Constitutional Law the following shall be considered to have lost force:
Law of the RSFSR of July 4, 1991 On Arbitration Court (Vedomosti of the Congress of Peoples' Deputies of the RSFSR and the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, 1991, No. 30, art. 1013; Vedomosti of the Congress of Peoples' Deputies of the RSFSR and the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, 1992, No. 34, art. 1965; 1993, No. 32, art. 1236);
Decree of the Supreme Soviet of the RFSFR No. 1544-1 of July 4, 1991 On the Introduction into Force of Law of the RSFSR On Arbitration Court" (Vedomosti of the Congress of Peoples' Deputies of the RSFSR and the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, 1991, No. 30, art. 1014).

President
of the Russian Federation
B. YELTSIN

Moscow, the Kremlin
April 28, 1995
No. 1-FKZ

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