Enforcement of Foreign Judgments and Awards in Commercial Matters in Russia

Scope of thesis lies in recognition and enforcement issues of foreign courts judgments and arbitral awards in Russia regarding commercial matters, which are arising from disputes between parties regarding their economic, trade, business and other commercial activities and resolved by a foreign court or arbitral tribunal. The thesis does not entail an actual discussion of the execution process conducted by a bailiffs service but presents: a background and introduction into Russian legal and judicial systems; consideration, analysis and systematization of legal grounds for enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards; different enforcement regimes providing for manner of enforcement; requirements for enforcement leave and a competent authority for that; consideration, analysis and classification of grounds for refusals to enforce; review of judicial practice and its current tendencies. The thesis offers a deeper look into the most unusual and complicated issues of recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards. To name few: to what extent a foreign judicial or arbitral act is empowered with the legal force of a national judicial act; correlation between international and national norms; if there is no particular specialized international treaty providing for those, what other treaties would suffice; on what grounds and how are recognition and enforcement possible in absence of international treaties; whether principles of comity and reciprocity are applicable in Russia and whether such application is imposed by international obligations. A part of the thesis addresses issues of enforcement leave and deals with some non-standard situations and their management in accordance with Russian law and practice. Several examples include issues when a foreign judgment, enforcement of which is sought in Russia: was already enforced or refused to be enforced in a third state; or if it is irreconcilable with another earlier judgment issued in Russia or another state; or the same dispute is currently under consideration by Russian or another foreign court; or if a party seeks enforcement of a court injunction of interim measure; or if it is required within the arbitral procedure. A substantial part of the thesis covers grounds for refusals to recognize and enforce foreign judgments and awards, where those are identified, analysed and grouped in accordance with the provisions of international and national legislation. The biggest part of the work is dedicated to the public policy. Despite guidance and interpretation of public policy in the international arena, the final word is after a national legislature. An attempt is made here, to describe a present situation and understanding of a public policy clause within the meaning of Russian legislation. A moderate part of the thesis is allocated to setting aside foreign arbitral awards and application of Article V(1)(e) of the New York Convention of 1958 on recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in Russia, the last part of which wording under law of which may cause a problem.Väitöskirjan soveltamisala on ulkomaisten tuomioistuinten tuomioiden ja välimiesoikeustuomioiden tunnustaminen ja täytäntöönpano kaupallisen alan asioissa Venäjällä. Kyse on eri osapuolten välisistä riidoista, jotka koskevat taloutta, kauppaa, liiketoimintaa tai muuta taloudellista toimintaa ja joissa asian on lopullisesti ratkaissut ulkomainen tuomioistuin. Haastemiehien suorittamaan varsinaiseen toimeenpanoprosessiin ei väitöskirjassa oteta tarkempaa kantaa. Väitöskirja esittelee: Venäjän oikeus- ja tuomioistuinjärjestelmien taustaa ja toimintaa; ulkomailla annettujen tuomioiden ja välimiesoikeustuomioiden täytäntöönpanon oikeudelliset perusteet; nykyisiin oikeudellisiin perusteisiin nojautuvat täytäntöönpanojärjestelmät, jotka määrittelevät täytäntöönpanotavat, täytäntöönpanohakemuksiin edellytetyt vaatimukset sekä toimivaltaisen viranomaisen; erilaiset kieltäytymisperusteet tuomion täyttämättä jättämiselle; oikeuskäytännön ja sen nykyiset suuntaukset; sekä muutamia kaikkein poikkeuksellisimpia ja monimutkaisimpia kysymyksiä liittyen ulkomailla annettujen tuomioiden ja välimiesoikeustuomioiden tunnustamiseen ja täytäntöönpanoon