Law of the Russian Federation on International Commercial Arbitration

In force 14 August 1993

Chapter I. - General Provisions

Article 1 - Scope of Application

Article 2 - Definitions and Rules of Interpretation

Article 3 - Receipt of Written Communications

Article 4 - Waiver of Right to Object

Article 5 - Extent of Court Intervention

Article 6 - Authority for Certain Functions of Arbitration Assistance and Control

Chapter II. - Arbitration Agreement

Article 7 - Definition and Form of Arbitration Agreement

Article 8 - Arbitration Agreement and Substantive Claim Before Court

Article 9 - Arbitration Agreement and Interim Measures by Court

Chapter III. - Composition of Third-Party Tribunal

Article 10 - Number of Arbitrators

Article 11 - Appointment of Arbitrators

Article 12 - Grounds for Challenge of Arbitrator

Article 13 - Challenge Procedure

Article 14 - Termination of Authority (Mandate) of Arbitrator

Article 15 - Substitution of Arbitrator

Chapter IV. - Jurisdiction of Arbitral Tribunal

Article 16 - Competence of Arbitral Tribunal to Rule on its Jurisdiction

Article 17 - Power of Arbitral Tribunal to Order Interim Measures

Chapter V. - Conduct of Arbitral Proceedings

Article 18 - Equal Treatment of Parties

Article 19 - Determination of Rules of Procedure

Article 20 - Place of Arbitration

Article 21 - Commencement of Arbitral Proceedings

Article 22 - Language

Article 23 - Statements of Claim and Defense

Article 24 - Hearings and Written Proceedings

Article 25 - Failure to Submit Documents or to Appear at Hearing

Article 26 - Expert Appointed by Arbitral Tribunal

Article 27 - Court Assistance in Taking Evidence

Chapter VI. - Making of Award and Termination of Proceedings

Article 28 - Rules Applicable to Substance of Dispute

Article 29 - Decision Making by Panel of Arbitrators

Article 30 - Settlement

Article 31 - Form and Contents of Award

Article 32 - Termination of Arbitral Proceedings

Article 33 - Correction and Interpretation of Award; Additional Award

Chapter VII. - Recourse Against Award

Article 34 - Application for Setting Aside as Exclusive Recourse Against Arbitral Award

Chapter VIII. - Recognition and Enforcement of Awards

Article 35 - Recognition and Enforcement

Article 36 - Grounds for Refusing Recognition or Enforcement of Arbitral Award

Russia - Law of the Russian Federation on International Commercial Arbitration * In force 14 August 1993

 { 1 }

The present Law:

 { 2 }

- is based on the recognition of the value of arbitration (third-party tribunal) as a widely used method of settling disputes arising in international trade, as well as on the recognition of the need for a comprehensive regulation of international commercial arbitration by means of legislation;

 { 3 }

- takes into account the provisions on such arbitration contained in international treaties of the Russian Federation as well as in the Model Law adopted in 1985 by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and approved by the United Nations General Assembly with a view to its possible use by states in their legislation.

 { 4 }

Chapter I. - General Provisions

 { 5 }

 
Article 1 - Scope of Application

 
 { 6 }

1. The present Law applies to international commercial arbitration if the place of arbitration is in the territory of the Russian Federation. However, the provisions of Articles 8, 9, 35 and 36 apply also if the place of arbitration is abroad.

 { 7 }

2. Pursuant to an agreement of the parties, the following may be referred to international commercial arbitration:

 { 8 }

- disputes resulting from contractual and other civil law relationships arising in the course of foreign trade and other forms of international economic relations, provided that the place of business of at least one of the parties is situated abroad; as well as

 { 9 }

- disputes arising between enterprises with foreign investment, international associations and organizations established in the territory of the Russian Federation; disputes between the participants of such entities; as well as disputes between such entities and other subjects of the Russian Federation law.

 { 10 }

3. For the purposes of paragraph 2 of this article:

 { 11 }

- if a party has more than one place of business, the place of business is that which has the closest relationship to the arbitration agreement

 { 12 }

- if a party does not have a place of business, reference is to be made to his permanent residence.

 { 13 }

4. The present Law does not affect any other law of the Russian Federation by virtue of which certain disputes may not be submitted to arbitration or may be submitted to arbitration only according to provisions other than those of the present Law.

 { 14 }

5. If an international treaty of the Russian Federation establishes rules other than those which are contained in the Russian legislation relating to arbitration (third-party tribunal), the rules of the international treaty shall be applied.

 { 15 }

 
Article 2 - Definitions and Rules of Interpretation

 
 { 16 }

For the purposes of the present Law:

 { 17 }

- "arbitration" means any arbitration (third-party tribunal) whether conducted by a tribunal set up specifically for a given case or administered by a permanent arbitral institution, in particular the Court of International Commercial Arbitration or the Maritime Arbitration Commission at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (Appendices I and II to the present Law);

 { 18 }

- "third-party tribunal" means a sole arbitrator or a panel of arbitrators (third-party judges);

 { 19 }

- "court" means a respective organ of the judicial system of a state;

 { 20 }

- where a provision of the present Law, except article 28, leaves the parties free to determine a certain issue, such freedom includes the right of the parties to authorize a third party, including an institution, to make that determination;

 { 21 }

- where a provision of the present Law refers to the fact that the parties have agreed or that they may agree or in any other way refers to an agreement of the parties, such agreement includes any arbitration rules referred to in that agreement;

 { 22 }

- where a provision of the present Law, except Articles 25(1) and 32(2), refers to a claim, it also applies to a counter-claim, and where it refers to a defense, it also applies to a defence to such counter-claim.

 { 23 }

 
Article 3 - Receipt of Written Communications

 
 { 24 }

1. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties:

 { 25 }

- any written communication is deemed to have been received if it is delivered to the addressee personally or if it is delivered at his place of business, permanent residence or mailing address; if none of these can be found after making a reasonable inquiry, a written communication is deemed to have been received if it is sent to the addressee's last-known place of business, permanent residence or mailing address by registered letter or any other means which provides a record of the attempt to deliver it;

 { 26 }

- the communication is deemed to have been received on the day it is so delivered.

 { 27 }

2. The provisions of this Article do not apply to communications in court proceedings.

 { 28 }

 
Article 4 - Waiver of Right to Object

 
 { 29 }

A party who knows that any provision of the present Law from which the parties may derogate or any requirement under the arbitration agreement has not been complied with and yet proceeds with the arbitration without stating his objection to such non-compliance without undue delay or, if a time-limit is provided therefor, within such period of time, shall be deemed to have waived his right to object.

 { 30 }

 
Article 5 - Extent of Court Intervention

 
 { 31 }

In matters governed by the present Law, no court shall intervene except where so provided in the present Law.

 { 32 }

 
Article 6 - Authority for Certain Functions of Arbitration Assistance and Control

 
 { 33 }

1. The functions referred to in Articles 11(3), 11(4), 13(3) and 14 shall be performed by the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.

 { 34 }

2. The functions referred to in Articles 16(3) and 34(2) shall be performed by the Supreme Court of a republic forming part of the Russian Federation, the territorial, regional or city court, or the court of the autonomous region or autonomous area where the arbitration takes place.

 { 35 }

Chapter II. - Arbitration Agreement

 { 36 }

 
Article 7 - Definition and Form of Arbitration Agreement

 
 { 37 }

1. Arbitration agreement is an agreement by the parties to submit to arbitration all or certain disputes which have arisen or which may arise between them in respect of a defined legal relationship, whether contractual or not. An arbitration agreement may be in the form of an arbitration clause in a contract or in the form of a separate agreement.

 { 38 }

2. The arbitration agreement shall be in writing. An agreement is in writing if it is contained in a document signed by the parties or in an exchange of letters, telex, telegrams or other means of telecommunication which provide a record of the agreement, or in an exchange of statements of claim and defense in which the existence of an agreement is alleged by one party and not denied by another. The reference in a contract to a document containing an arbitration clause constitutes an arbitration agreement provided that the contract is in writing and the reference is such as to make that clause part of the contract.

 { 39 }

 
Article 8 - Arbitration Agreement and Substantive Claim Before Court

 
 { 40 }

1. A court in which an action is brought in a matter which is the subject of an arbitration agreement shall, if any of the parties so requests not later than when submitting his first statement on the substance of the dispute, stay its proceedings and refer the parties to arbitration unless it finds that the agreement is null and void, inoperative or incapable of being performed.

 { 41 }

2. Where an action referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article has been brought, arbitral proceedings may nevertheless be commenced or continued, and an award may be made, while the issue of jurisdiction is pending before the court.

 { 42 }

 
Article 9 - Arbitration Agreement and Interim Measures by Court

 
 { 43 }

It is not incompatible with an arbitration agreement for a party to request, before or during arbitral proceedings, a court to order interim measures of protection and for a court to take a decision granting such measures.

 { 44 }

Chapter III. - Composition of Third-Party Tribunal

 { 45 }

 
Article 10 - Number of Arbitrators

 
 { 46 }

1. The parties are free to determine the number of arbitrators.

 { 47 }

2. If the parties have not determined such number, three arbitrators shall be appointed.

 { 48 }

 
Article 11 - Appointment of Arbitrators

 
 { 49 }

1. No person shall be precluded by reason of his nationality from acting as an arbitrator, unless otherwise agreed by the parties.

 { 50 }

2. The parties are free to agree on a procedure of appointing the arbitrator or arbitrators, subject to the provisions of paragraphs 4 and 5 of this article.

 { 51 }

3. Failing such agreement.

 { 52 }

- in an arbitration with three arbitrators, each party shall appoint one arbitrator, and the two arbitrators thus appointed shall appoint the third arbitrator; if a party fails to appoint the arbitrator within 30 days of receipt of a request to do so from the other party, or if the two arbitrators fail to agree on the third arbitrator within 30 days of their appointment, the appointment shall be made, upon request of a party, by the authority specified in article 6(1);

 { 53 }

- in an arbitration with a sole arbitrator, if the parties are unable to agree on the arbitrator, he shall be appointed, upon request of a party, by the authority specified in article 6(1).

 { 54 }

4. Where, under an appointment procedure agreed upon by the parties,

 { 55 }

- a party fails to act as required under such procedure, or

 { 56 }

- the parties, or two arbitrators, are unable to reach an agreement expected of them under such procedure; or

 { 57 }

- a third party, including an institution, fails to perform any function entrusted to it under such procedure, any party may request the authority specified in article 6(1) to take the necessary measures, unless the agreement on the appointment procedure provides other means for securing the appointment.

 { 58 }

5. A decision on any matter entrusted by paragraph 3 or 4 of this Article to the authority specified in article 6(1) shall be subject to no appeal. The authority, in appointing an arbitrator, shall have due regard to any qualifications required of the arbitrator by the agreement of the parties and to such considerations as are likely to secure the appointment of an independent and impartial arbitrator and, in the case of a sole or third arbitrator, shall take into account as well the advisability of appointing an arbitrator of a nationality other than those of the parties.

 { 59 }

 
Article 12 - Grounds for Challenge of Arbitrator

 
 { 60 }

1. When a person is approached in connection with his possible appointment as an arbitrator, he shall disclose any circumstances which may give rise to justifiable doubts as to his impartiality or independence. An arbitrator, from the time of his appointment and throughout the arbitral proceedings, shall without delay disclose any such circumstances to the parties, unless they have already been informed of them by him.

 { 61 }

2. An arbitrator may be challenged only if circumstances exist that give rise to justifiable doubts as to his impartiality or independence, or if he does not possess qualifications required by the agreement of the parties. A party may challenge an arbitrator appointed by him, or in whose appointment he has participated, only for reasons of which he becomes aware after the appointment has been made.

 { 62 }

 
Article 13 - Challenge Procedure

 
 { 63 }

1. The parties are free to agree on a procedure for challenging an arbitrator, subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 of this article.

 { 64 }

2. Failing such agreement, a party who intends to challenge an arbitrator shall, within 15 days after becoming aware of the constitution of the arbitral tribunal or after becoming aware of any circumstances referred to in article 12(2), communicate the reasons for the challenge in writing to the arbitral tribunal. Unless the challenged arbitrator withdraws from his office or the other party agrees to the challenge, the arbitral tribunal shall decide on the challenge.

 { 65 }

3. If a challenge under any procedure agreed upon by the parties or under the procedure of paragraph 2 of this Article is not successful, the challenging party may request, within 30 days after having received notice of the decision rejecting the challenge, the authority specified in article 6(1) to decide on the challenge; its decision shall be subject to no appeal. While such a request is pending, the arbitral tribunal, including the challenged arbitrator, may continue the arbitral proceedings and make an award.

 { 66 }

 
Article 14 - Termination of Authority (Mandate) of Arbitrator

 
 { 67 }

1. If an arbitrator becomes de jure or de facto unable to perform his functions or for other reasons fails to act without undue delay, his authorization (mandate) terminates if he withdraws from his office or if the parties agree on the termination. Otherwise, if a controversy remains concerning any of these grounds, any party may request the authority specified in article 6(1) to decide on the termination of the mandate; its decision shall be subject to no appeal.

 { 68 }

2. If, under this Article or article 13(2), an arbitrator withdraws from his office or a party agrees to the termination of the mandate of an arbitrator, this does not imply acceptance of the validity of any ground referred to in this Article or article 12(2).

 { 69 }

 
Article 15 - Substitution of Arbitrator

 
 { 70 }

Where the mandate of an arbitrator terminates under article 13 or 14 or because of his withdrawal from office for any other reason or because of the revocation of his mandate by agreement of the parties or in any other case of termination of his mandate, a substitute arbitrator shall be appointed according to the rules that were applicable to the appointment of the arbitrator being replaced.

 { 71 }

Chapter IV. - Jurisdiction of Arbitral Tribunal

 { 72 }

 
Article 16 - Competence of Arbitral Tribunal to Rule on its Jurisdiction

 
 { 73 }

1. The arbitral tribunal may rule on its own jurisdiction, including any objections with respect to the existence or validity of the arbitration agreement. For that purpose, an arbitration clause which forms part of a contract shall be treated as an agreement independent of the other terms of the contract. A decision by the arbitral tribunal that the contract is null and void shall not entail ipso jure the invalidity of the arbitration clause.

 { 74 }

2. A plea that the arbitral tribunal does not have jurisdiction shall be raised not later than the submission of the statement of defense. A party is not precluded from raising such a plea by the fact that he has appointed, or participated in the appointment of, an arbitrator. A plea that the arbitral tribunal is exceeding the scope of its authority shall be raised as soon as the matter alleged to be beyond the scope of its authority is raised during the arbitral proceedings. The arbitral tribunal may, in either case, admit a later plea if it considers the delay justified.

 { 75 }

3. The arbitral tribunal may rule on a plea referred to in paragraph 2 of this article either as a preliminary question or in an award on the merits. If the tribunal rules as a preliminary question that it has jurisdiction, any party may request, within 30 days after having received notice of that ruling, the court specified in article 6(2) to decide the matter; such a decision shall be subject to no appeal. While such a request is pending, the arbitral tribunal may continue the arbitral proceedings and make an award.

 { 76 }

 
Article 17 - Power of Arbitral Tribunal to Order Interim Measures

 
 { 77 }

Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the arbitral tribunal may, at the request of a party, order any party to take such interim measures of protection as the arbitral tribunal may consider necessary in respect of the subject-matter of the dispute. The arbitral tribunal may require any party to provide appropriate security in connection with such measures.

 { 78 }

Chapter V. - Conduct of Arbitral Proceedings

 { 79 }

 
Article 18 - Equal Treatment of Parties

 
 { 80 }

The parties shall be treated with equality and each party shall be given a full opportunity of presenting his case.

 { 81 }

 
Article 19 - Determination of Rules of Procedure

 
 { 82 }

1. Subject to the provisions of the present Law, the parties are free to agree on the procedure to be followed by the arbitral tribunal in conducting the proceedings.

 { 83 }

2. Failing such agreement, the arbitral tribunal may, subject to the provisions of the present Law, conduct the arbitration in such manner as it considers appropriate. The powees conferred upon the arbitral tribunal include the power to determine the admissibility, relevance, materiality and weight of any evidence.

 { 84 }

 
Article 20 - Place of Arbitration

 
 { 85 }

1. The parties are free to agree on the place of arbitration. Failing such agreement, the place of arbitration shall be determined by the arbitral tribunal having regard to the circumstances of the case, including the convenience of the parties.

 { 86 }

2.