Russia

• The Constitution of 1993
• Federal laws and codes, such as the Civil Code (in several parts), the Criminal Code and the procedure codes
• Federal constitutional laws on the courts
• Guidance from the Supreme Court and decisions of the Constitutional Court

• The Constitutional Court, which decides whether laws and certain acts follow the Constitution
• The Supreme Court at the top of the courts of general jurisdiction (civil, criminal and administrative cases), which also took over the work of the former Supreme Commercial Court after 2014
• Arbitrazh courts, which decide commercial disputes between businesses

A law degree, then for the title advokat (a licensed lawyer who can represent clients in court) a qualifying exam and membership of a regional bar chamber. Judges are appointed through a separate qualification process.

• There are separate commercial (arbitrazh) courts for business disputes, which can confuse readers because 'arbitrazh' does not mean arbitration.
• The Supreme Court's explanatory rulings guide lower courts even though they are not 'precedent' in the common-law sense.
• The Civil Code is organised into parts and follows the continental structure, influenced by German and Dutch models.
• Court structure and international commitments have changed in recent decades, so always check the current position.

Germany, France, Bulgaria, China, Japan

The University of Ottawa’s JuriGlobe database lists Russia as: Civil law. It names the systems in order of importance.

The map colours a country by the first-named system, and shows both civil-law and common-law countries as “mixed”. It is a simplification, and real systems are rarely pure.

Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria.

• Federal Judicial Center: Russia
• Supreme Court of the Russian Federation

Sources last reviewed: October 2026.