If you need the file before an upcoming hearing
Locate the file
Transfer to another court or the archive determines where to apply.
Identify the materials
Specify the volume, document, audio recording or separate dispute when known.
Explain any access problem
Keep proof of the request and explain which missing materials are needed to prepare your position.
Reviewing the case file is a procedural right, not merely an administrative request. In a Russian arbitration-court case, the scope of access depends on the applicant’s procedural status, authority to act and the court’s applicable procedures.
Short answer. A person participating in the case may review the materials, make extracts and copy documents. A representative should be ready to confirm authority. Use the case number and the specific court, follow that court’s current procedure, and distinguish publicly available case information from access to the full file.
Who may review the file?
The Arbitration Procedure Code gives persons participating in a case the right to review case materials, make extracts and take copies. The court verifies the applicant’s identity and procedural connection with the case. A representative acts on the basis of documents confirming authority.
Access is not the same as the right of an outside observer to obtain any document. Certain materials may be subject to restrictions, including where the law or a closed hearing requires a special procedure.
Find the case and check the court’s procedure
Start with the case number, the court and the party’s correct legal name. The Arbitration Case File can help locate public information on the case and its procedural history. For a file review request, use the procedure published by the court handling the case; local booking and submission practices may differ.
| Information to prepare | Why it is useful |
|---|---|
| Case number and court | Identifies the exact file and the court responsible for arranging access. |
| Applicant’s procedural role | Shows the connection with the proceedings. |
| Contact details | Allows the court to communicate the available format or appointment details. |
| Representative’s authority | May be required before access is granted to a representative. |
| Purpose and requested format | Helps distinguish an in-person review, electronic materials or copies where available. |
What to include in a request
A concise request normally identifies the case, the applicant, the procedural position and a contact method. If a representative applies, attach or otherwise provide documents showing authority. Avoid assuming that one court’s form, time slot or electronic workflow applies to every arbitration court.
The request should be accurate and proportionate. It is sensible to ask for the available method of review rather than demand a format that the court’s procedure does not provide in the particular case.
Review, extracts and copies
Reviewing a file lets the participant assess evidence, procedural documents and the other parties’ submissions. The practical ability to make notes or copies can depend on the applicable rules, technical conditions and the nature of the materials. A court is not generally required to reproduce every item in a file at its own expense; check the current procedure before relying on a particular method of copying.
Electronic access
Electronic materials and public case data may be available through court information systems, but access to a full electronic file is not automatic for every participant or every document. The format may depend on how documents were filed, the category of case and the access rules in force. Do not treat a public entry in the case file as a complete substitute for reviewing the case materials.
If access is delayed or refused
First clarify whether the request contains the case number and evidence of authority, and whether the file is physically available. If an issue remains, preserve the request and communications and consider the procedural options in the context of the case. The appropriate response depends on the court’s explanation, the stage of proceedings and the applicant’s status.
Official sources
- Article 41 of the Arbitration Procedure Code — procedural rights of persons participating in a case.
- Instruction on records management in Russian arbitration courts.
- Arbitration Case File — public case information and procedural history.
Need to assess the case materials before your next procedural step? A review can help identify missing evidence, procedural risks and the appropriate way to present a position to the court.
Public Docket Orders and the Full Case File Are Not the Same
| Method | Available | Prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Court docket | Public orders | Case number |
| Online access | Digitized materials | Application |
| At court | Case volumes | ID and authority |
| Photography | Own copies | Device and checklist |
| Order copy | Separate document | Application if required |
Create a document checklist
It exposes a missing volume or attachment.
Prove authority
A representative supplies proper records.
Index photographs
Name files by volume, page and date.
Online Access Depends on Technical Availability and File Content
Article 41 of the Commercial Procedure Code lets participants inspect, make extracts and copy materials; where technically possible, online access is provided through the designated judicial system. Restricted information may not appear publicly. For in-person review, check the particular court’s procedure, apply in advance and confirm the file’s location. Afterwards, index received records and separately request missing or unreadable material.
Inspection Complete
Appointment, archives and copying
Filing the request does not mean the volumes will be available immediately. Confirm the appointment under the particular court’s procedure; locating an archived file can take additional preparation. Identify the case year and instance accurately. For a bankruptcy matter, identify the separate dispute as well as the main case number.
Bring identification and evidence of authority. Photograph covers, inventories, numbered pages, reverse sides and attachments in sequence; check legibility before returning each volume. Do not mark documents, rearrange pages or remove anything. Request missing electronic attachments and audio recordings separately. Public docket entries may not contain the complete record.
Access to traffic-police, FAS, prosecution and bailiff files