Russian Legal Terms: E–K

This glossary defines Russian legal terms from E to K in English transliteration, providing contextual explanations for their use in the Russian legal system.

E

Edinonachalie (Единоначалие) — Unity of command or single-person management. A principle of administrative and organizational law whereby a single person bears full responsibility for decision-making in a state body, enterprise, or military unit. In corporate law, edinonachalie refers to the sole executive body (general director) who manages the organization alongside collegial bodies.

Ekspertiza (Экспертиза) — Expert examination or expert evaluation. A formal procedure in which a specialist with relevant expertise examines materials, objects, or circumstances to provide findings relevant to legal proceedings. Forensic ekspertiza is governed by the Law on State Forensic Expert Activity and is commonly ordered in criminal, civil, and arbitrazh proceedings.

F

Federalny Zakon (Федеральный закон) — Federal law. A legislative act adopted by the Federal Assembly on matters within the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation. Federal laws have direct effect across the entire territory of the Russian Federation and must conform to the Constitution. They are adopted by the State Duma, approved by the Federation Council, and signed by the President.

Federalnaya Sluzhba (Федеральная служба) — Federal service. A type of federal executive body that exercises control and supervisory functions in a specific area of state administration. Examples include the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Federal Tax Service (FNS), and the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection (Rospotrebnadzor).

Fizicheskoe Litso (Физическое лицо) — Natural person or individual. A human being as a subject of law, possessing legal capacity (правоспособность) from birth and capacity to exercise rights (дееспособность) in full upon reaching the age of majority. Fizicheskie litsa are distinguished from legal persons (yuridicheskie litsa) in all legal relationships.

G

Generalnaya Prokuratura (Генеральная прокуратура) — General Procuracy. The central body of the unified centralized system of the Procuracy of the Russian Federation, headed by the Procurator General. The General Procuracy exercises supervision over compliance with laws, coordinates law enforcement activities, and represents the state in criminal prosecution.

Gosudarstvennaya Duma (Государственная Дума) — State Duma. The lower house of the Federal Assembly, the bicameral parliament of Russia, composed of 450 deputies elected for five-year terms. The State Duma adopts federal laws, approves the Prime Minister’s appointment, and exercises parliamentary oversight over the executive branch.

Gosudarstvenny Sovet (Государственный совет) — State Council. A consultative body established by the President that brings together senior state officials, including the President, the Prime Minister, heads of federal executive bodies, and regional governors. The 2020 constitutional amendments gave the State Council a formal constitutional status, though its exact powers remain broadly defined.

Grazhdanskoe Pravo (Гражданское право) — Civil law. The branch of private law governing property and personal non-property relations based on equality, autonomy of will, and property independence of participants. Russian civil law is codified in the Civil Code and draws on the Romano-Germanic legal tradition.

Grazhdanin (Гражданин) — Citizen. A person who has a stable legal connection with the Russian Federation, expressed in mutual rights and obligations. Citizenship is governed by the Federal Law on Citizenship and is acquired primarily by birth, naturalization, or reinstatement. Citizenship entails political rights including the right to vote and stand for election.

I

Ipokhondriya (Ипохондрия) — Hypochondria. In Russian criminal law, a mental state that may affect the assessment of criminal responsibility. While primarily a medical condition, ipokhondriya may be considered in forensic psychiatric examinations when evaluating the mental state of a defendant, particularly in relation to diminished capacity defenses under Article 22 of the Criminal Code.

Ispolnitelnaya Vlast (Исполнительная власть) — Executive power. The branch of state power responsible for implementing laws and conducting state administration, exercised by the Government of the Russian Federation and federal executive bodies. The executive branch is headed by the President, who directs the Government and defines the basic directions of domestic and foreign policy.

Istets (Истец) — Plaintiff. The party who initiates civil proceedings by filing a statement of claim (iskovoe zayavlenie) with a court. The istets must have a legal interest in the case and must specify the subject matter and basis of the claim. The plaintiff bears the burden of proving the factual circumstances supporting the claim.

K

Kachesivo (Качество) — Quality. A legal standard in consumer protection law, contract law, and administrative regulation requiring that goods, works, and services conform to contractual specifications, mandatory requirements, and standards. Quality is regulated by the Law on Technical Regulation and the Law on Protection of Consumer Rights.

Kadastr (Кадастр) — Cadastre or land registry. The state real estate cadastre, a systematized register of information about immovable property, maintained by the Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre, and Cartography. The cadastre records information about land plots, buildings, structures, and their legal status.

Kassatsiya (Кассация) — Cassation appeal. A form of judicial review of court decisions that have entered into legal force, limited to questions of law and significant procedural violations. Cassation review is available against appellate decisions and first-instance decisions that were not appealed. The court of cassation may quash or modify decisions but does not re-examine factual findings.

Kodeks (Кодекс) — Code. A comprehensive legislative act that systematically codifies the legal norms governing a particular branch of law. Major Russian codes include the Civil Code, Criminal Code, Family Code, Labour Code, Tax Code, and the procedural codes. Codes have the force of federal law and are the primary source of law in their respective fields.

Kolledzh (Колледж) — College or specialized educational institution. A higher or secondary vocational education institution providing professional training. In Russian education law, kolledzh is distinguished from universities and institutes by its focus on applied professional training and its status in the system of continuous professional education.

Konfiskatsiya (Конфискация) — Confiscation. The compulsory, uncompensated seizure of property by the state as a sanction. In Russian law, confiscation is primarily an administrative or criminal law measure applied to instrumentalities of crime, proceeds of crime, or property used in the commission of offenses. General confiscation of all property is prohibited.

Konstitutsiya (Конституция) — Constitution. The fundamental law of the Russian Federation with supreme legal force, adopted by popular referendum on 12 December 1993. The Constitution establishes the principles of the constitutional order, guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms, defines the federal structure, and establishes the system of state power.

Krazha (Кража) — Theft. The secret, unobserved taking of another person’s property, criminalized under Article 158 of the Criminal Code. Krazha is distinguished from robbery (grabezh), which involves open taking of property, and burglary or theft with aggravating circumstances carries increased penalties.