On April 21, 2026, the State Duma adopted Bill No. 1077246-8 in its third reading, introducing amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (CAO RF). These innovations are aimed at expanding the rights of participants in administrative offense proceedings and unifying procedural legislation.
Context of the changes
Prior to the adoption of the bill, the CAO RF only established a general right for participants in proceedings to familiarize themselves with case materials. At the same time, other procedural codes (the Civil Procedure Code, the Arbitration Procedure Code, the Administrative Procedure Code, and the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation) already contained direct provisions allowing parties not only to familiarize themselves with the case materials but also to make extracts and copies. The lack of a direct reference in the CAO RF to the right of participants in administrative offense proceedings to make extracts and copies often led to difficulties in preparing for hearings due to defense counsel being denied these rights. Consequently, the development of the draft was prompted by the need to protect the interests of participants in administrative offense proceedings and to ensure the unification of legal norms across all types of judicial proceedings.
Key innovations
The law amends Articles 25.1, 25.2, and 25.5 of the CAO RF, granting the following rights to persons against whom proceedings are being conducted, victims, and their representatives:
- the right to familiarize themselves with audio and video recordings available in the case;
- the right to make extracts from the materials of the administrative offense case;
- the right to take copies of case materials at their own expense, including by using technical means.
Comments
These amendments fill an existing legal gap that often led to practical disputes regarding the use of smartphones or portable scanners to record case materials. Furthermore, the ability to obtain copies of materials will allow participants to prepare more effectively for future hearings