Putin signed a law on citizens' right to appeal to courts with collective claims

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that enables citizens to appeal to courts with collective claims, including on the protection of consumer rights and challenging tariffs for housing and communal services. The document is published on the official portal of legal information, it will enter into force on October 1, 2019.

The law provides for the unification of the legal regulation of the judicial consideration of cases of the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of the group of persons. It prescribes in detail the procedure for filing collective claims and the mechanism for the implementation of this right, reports TASS.

It is established that at least 20 people should join in order to file a collective claim to a group of citizens. To join the requirement to protect rights and legitimate interests, it will be necessary to submit in writing an appropriate statement to the person who acts in the interests of a group of citizens. At the same time, no powers of attorney to represent their interests from citizens will be required. It will be possible to join the lawsuit until the transition to the judicial debate.

According to the law, such cases will be considered by the court no later than 8 months from the date of the decision on the adoption of the claim for production. In addition, the grounds and the procedure for replacing the person who are conducting the case in the interests of a group of citizens in case of termination of his authority by the court are envisaged (the basis for termination of powers is the refusal of the named person from the claim).