The legal system of Russia
A federal civil-law system codified in the four parts of the Civil Code (1994–2006), with a 1996 Criminal Code and 2001 procedure codes. The 2020 constitutional amendments asserted the primacy of the Constitution over international decisions, and Russia ceased to be a party to the ECHR in September 2022 after expulsion from the Council of Europe.
Legal tradition
Russia belongs to the civil law tradition. A federal civil-law system codified in the four parts of the Civil Code (1994–2006), with a 1996 Criminal Code and 2001 procedure codes. The 2020 constitutional amendments asserted the primacy of the Constitution over international decisions, and Russia ceased to be a party to the ECHR in September 2022 after expulsion from the Council of Europe.
How power is divided
Federal and semi-presidential: the President is a distinct branch-transcending office with wide appointment and decree powers, and since 2020 may initiate the removal of senior judges through the Federation Council.
Where law comes from
- Constitution
- Supreme law; since 2020 expressly prevails over contrary international decisions.
- Federal constitutional laws
- Adopted by three-quarters and two-thirds majorities; rank above ordinary federal law.
- Federal laws and codes
- Civil Code in four parts, Criminal Code 1996, Tax Code, Labour Code 2001.
- Presidential decrees (ukazy)
- Binding throughout the Federation where consistent with law.
- Regional legislation
- Enacted by the 80-plus federal subjects within their competence.
- Supreme Court plenum rulings
- Guidance clarifying the application of law for all courts.
The legal profession
Advocates (адвокаты) are admitted by regional chambers under the Federal Chamber of Advocates and hold the exclusive right to defend in criminal cases; other litigation may be conducted by non-advocate representatives.
Law by topic in Russia
- Human RightsExpelled from the Council of Europe, outside the ECHR since 2022Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe in March 2022 and ceased to be a party to the ECHR on 16 September 2022, so the ECtHR retains jurisdiction only over facts before that date. Domestically the Commissioner for Human Rights and regional commissioners remain.
- Property & LandA unified state register where registration creates titleThe unified state register of real property (EGRN), maintained by Rosreestr, merged the cadastre and the rights register in 2017. Registration is constitutive, and the register entry rather than the contract is what proves ownership.
- Employment & LabourA 2001 Labour Code with an exhaustive list of dismissal groundsThe Labour Code of 2001 is employee-protective on paper: dismissal is lawful only on a listed ground, redundancy requires two months' notice and severance, and electronic employment records became the default for new entrants from 2021.
- Business & CorporateCivil Code company law with heavy counter-sanctions overlayCompanies are governed by the Civil Code and the laws on limited liability and joint-stock companies, with an OOO requiring only RUB 10,000 of capital. Since 2022 presidential decrees on counter-sanctions control transactions with persons from unfriendly states.
- Family LawThe 1995 Family Code with registry divorce for childless couplesThe Family Code of 1995 governs marriage, parentage and maintenance. Spouses without minor children who both consent may divorce at the registry office in one month, while all other cases go to the magistrate or district court.
- Immigration & NationalityA patent-based labour migration system with strict registrationEntry and stay are governed by the 2002 Law on the legal status of foreign citizens. Visa-free nationals from most CIS states work on a monthly patent, others need a work permit or highly qualified specialist status, and migration registration is mandatory.
- Civil ProcedureSeparate civil, arbitrazh and administrative procedure codesOrdinary civil claims follow the 2002 Code of Civil Procedure before magistrates and district courts, commercial disputes go to the arbitrazh courts under their own code, and public-law claims follow the 2015 Code of Administrative Procedure.
- Constitutional LawThe 1993 constitution as amended in 2020, with treaty supremacy curtailedThe Constitution of 1993 was substantially amended in 2020, resetting presidential terms and inserting Article 79 wording allowing non-execution of international bodies' decisions found contrary to the constitution. The Constitutional Court retains an individual complaint after exhaustion of remedies.
- Criminal LawThe 1996 code with a 48-hour detention limit and wartime offencesThe Criminal Code of 1996 and the 2001 Code of Criminal Procedure apply. Detention without a court decision is limited to 48 hours, and since 2022 new offences cover discrediting the armed forces and dissemination of knowingly false information about them.
- Tax LawA progressive income tax from 2025 and 25% corporate taxThe flat 13% income tax was replaced from 1 January 2025 by a five-band scale running from 13% to 22%. Corporate profit tax rose to 25% in the same reform, standard VAT is 20%, and a self-employed regime taxes turnover at 4% or 6%.
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