Special Coverage

Juries in Russian Commercial Courts: details of the initiative

Anton Ivanov, Chairman of the Supreme Commercial Court, wants elements of a jury trial introduced into the commercial litigation process. The initiative was announced at an Expert Council meeting held by Boris Titov, the Commissioner for Entrepreneurs’ Rights. The response of the experts at the meeting led Ivanov to conclude that an appropriate law should be drafted. However, although the initiative’s strategic aim is to increase trust in the judiciary and in commercial courts by increasing the public’s role in rulings, experts voiced skepticism about the idea in a conversation with RAPSI.

16:54 11.06.2013

As media reels from AP probe, Russian-US crime ring suspects urge hunt for leaks

Attorneys for Illya and Vadim Trincher – two men accused by US authorities of having played leading roles in interconnected Russian-American organized criminal enterprises – claimed last week that some of the evidence that US investigators gathered against them by means of electronic surveillance was leaked to reporters for the New York Times, according to court documents obtained by RAPSI.

13:09 28.05.2013

Boston tragedy: The curtains are lifted

The law enforcement agencies, which played the lead role during the first part of the Boston tragedy, performed in the best traditions of action movies. They chased the suspects, seized their car and engaged in a shootout with the suspects, during which one of the suspected terrorists was killed. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are moving to the forefront during part two, which promises to be no less thrilling, albeit less dynamic.

12:02 25.04.2013

Berezovsky's lawyer: Lawsuit against Abramovich was beyond a gamble

Semyon Ariya, godfather of the Soviet and Russian legal profession, does not enjoy being in the spotlight. This could have something to do with the fact that he just turned 90 in December. But Mr. Ariya has made an exception to speak with RAPSI about perhaps his most famous client, Boris Berezovsky.

12:01 24.04.2013

Court to consider Bolshoi acid attack suspects' release - live coverage

RAPSI is live on the scene as Moscow's Tagansky District Court is expected to issue a decision today on the detention of Bolshoi Theater leading soloist Pavel Dmitrichenko and two suspected accomplices in connection with the brutal acid attack that left Bolshoi Artistic Director Sergei Filin with third degree burns to his face and eyes.

10:49 16.04.2013

Tsiskaridze wages war on the Bolshoi - live

Welcome to RAPSI's live text broadcast of principal dancer of the Bolshoi Nikolai Tsiskaridze's legal battle with the world’s most famous ballet theatre. Thanks for tuning into RAPSI and watching the drama unfold live!

17:49 11.04.2013

The new frontier of Russian IP law

Russia’s Intellectual Property Court, which was established by presidential order on December 8, 2011, will begin hearing cases this year. The court’s chair Lyudmila Novosyolova told RAPSI’s Sergei Feklyunin about the court’s judges and the current situation in the sphere of intellectual property disputes in Russia.

13:22 10.04.2013

Lotkova case reveals weakness in Russian self-defense law

A 2012 Moscow Metro station brawl culminating in the firing by a young university student of a traumatic pistol became a high-profile sensation earlier this week when a Moscow court ruled that the 20-year-old shooter would be sentenced to three years in a penal colony for her crime.

09:02 23.03.2013

ECHR clears Russia of most violations alleged by terrorism convicts

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) held Thursday that Russia did not violate the rights of members of an extremist Muslim organization to freedom or religion, expression, or peaceful assembly by convicting them of membership in a terrorist organization.

17:29 14.03.2013

Secrecy and transparency battle for supremacy in UK, US justice systems

Russia’s recent efforts to promote judicial transparency seem to be a bit off trend. In fact, at the moment secret tribunals are all the rage. The UK and US are both presently grappling with efforts to expand secrecy within their respective judiciaries. Initiatives within both justice systems to slink toward secrecy have been met with ire by political leaders, advocacy groups, and concerned citizens alike.

16:39 15.02.2013

Top news

Russian courts allowed not to implement rulings of Europe's human rights court

Russia's Supreme Court proposed not to implement rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the provisions of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR).

12:53 09.12.2025

Redomiciliation stalls: How sanctions are shaping new practices for Russian companies

The mechanism for redomiciliating foreign companies to Russian jurisdiction, in effect since 2018, has recently encountered serious obstacles. Taking into account the background of sanctions-related restrictions introduced in 2022 through 2025, it has become extremely difficult to achieve the goal. The situation gave rise to the phenomenon of dual domicile and led to a rise in the number of new litigations, both in Russia and abroad.

12:32 09.12.2025

Soldiers jailed for killing US journalist Russell Bentley

A military court in Donetsk sentenced three soldiers to up to 12 years in prison for torturing and killing Russell Bentley, a 63-year-old U.S. national who collaborated with Sputnik news agency.

14:05 08.12.2025