Documents
Documents and procedures
An appeal is not just a text but also the paper trail it leaves behind. A copy of the letter, the receipt stamp, the registration number and the reply itself will all come in handy if you need to follow up, complain about a delay or explain the history of the correspondence to a new addressee. Here is what to keep and how to count the deadlines.
Correspondence that can be laid out by date is hard to dispute: it shows who received what and when.
Below is a general summary of the rules of Russian Federal Law No. 59-FZ and everyday tips on keeping papers. Check the exact wording against the current version of the law.
What to keep
| Document | Why | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Copy of the appeal | To remember exactly what you asked for and to refer to your own text in later letters | Whether the copy matches the one you sent and has a signature, date and list of enclosures |
| Receipt stamp or return receipt | Proof that the letter arrived, and a guide to when to expect registration | Whether the date and the recipient’s signature are legible and the recipient matches the one you wrote to |
| Registration number | Makes it easier to follow up and to refer to the appeal in a second letter or a complaint | Whether the number and date of registration are written down; if you were not told, ask the addressee |
| Reply | The outcome of the review and the basis for your next steps | Whether it answers each of your questions, who signed it and whether it is dated |
| Extension correspondence | Shows that the deadline was extended and that you were notified | Whether a reason for the extension is given and whether it exceeds 30 days |
Deadlines under Russian law
A written appeal is registered within three days of receipt (Art. 8(2)). If the issue is outside the body’s competence, within seven days of registration the appeal is sent to the body that can resolve it, and the author is notified (Art. 8(3)).
The review period is 30 days from registration (Art. 12(1)). In exceptional cases it may be extended by no more than 30 days, with the citizen notified (Art. 12(2)). Mark the key dates on your calendar: that makes it easier to notice when the deadline has passed and there is still no answer. In other countries, rules and deadlines for appeals to public bodies are different — check your local law.
Related sections
- Guides
Step-by-step guides: write an appeal, send it with proof of delivery, challenge an unsatisfactory reply and draft a claim to a company.
- Examples
Sample situations: no reply for over a month, a brush-off instead of an answer, forwarding to another body, a silent store, adding to a letter.
- FAQ
Short answers on how to write an appeal, when it will be registered and reviewed, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Sources
- Federal Law No. 59-FZ of 2 May 2006 “On the Procedure for Considering Appeals of Citizens of the Russian Federation” (Russia) — Arts. 7, 8, 11, 12
- Official Internet Portal of Legal Information (Russia) — texts of laws
This guide summarizes the general rules of Russian Federal Law No. 59-FZ “On the Procedure for Considering Appeals of Citizens of the Russian Federation” as of the date the material was prepared. Laws change, so before an important step, check the wording against the current version on the official legal information portal.