MOSCOW, October 31 (RAPSI) – The Supreme Court’s Plenum has approved regulation of mediation in civil, commercial and administrative proceedings.

The document sets requirements to court mediators, determines rights and responsibilities of parties involved and fixes principles and stages of mediation.

According to the regulation, the procedure of mediation may be undertaken at every stage upon a motion of one of the parties or at the suggestion of a court if the parties agree with it. 

The Supreme Court’s Plenum is authorized to approve a list of mediators which would include retired judges. However, ex-judges working in state bodies are not allowed to be mediators.

Mediation must be conducted in the form of negotiations and include statement of facts, interests of parties, formulation of questions for discussion, individual communication between a mediator and each party or their representatives, preparation of proposals for the dispute regulation, presentation of the mediation results.

Among the results of mediation set in the regulation may be an amicable agreement, withdrawal of a lawsuit or its partial or full recognition, agreement on the case’s facts and others.

Mediation may be completed upon an application of one of the parties or both as well as due to the expiration of the mediation lead time or its completion by a mediator.