Article 2 - Definitions and Rules of Interpretation

For the purposes of the present Law:

- "arbitration" means any arbitration (third-party tribunal) whether conducted by a tribunal set up specifically for a given case or administered by a permanent arbitral institution, in particular the Court of International Commercial Arbitration or the Maritime Arbitration Commission at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (Appendices I and II to the present Law);

- "third-party tribunal" means a sole arbitrator or a panel of arbitrators (third-party judges);

- "court" means a respective organ of the judicial system of a state;

- where a provision of the present Law, except article 28, leaves the parties free to determine a certain issue, such freedom includes the right of the parties to authorize a third party, including an institution, to make that determination;

- where a provision of the present Law refers to the fact that the parties have agreed or that they may agree or in any other way refers to an agreement of the parties, such agreement includes any arbitration rules referred to in that agreement;

- where a provision of the present Law, except Articles 25(1) and 32(2), refers to a claim, it also applies to a counter-claim, and where it refers to a defense, it also applies to a defence to such counter-claim.