I found this article [here] detailing a new Russian Federation regulation.

From the article:

...Mediation has not previously been expressly provided for in Russian legislation nor has any law contained a detailed description or procedure for it.

In most cases, mediation allows parties to reach the best possible, and a mutually beneficial, compromise without involving judicial bodies or reducing the effectiveness of the settlement process.

The draft regulations contain complex and detailed legal mechanism for mediation, as well as various amendments and additions to civil law, civil procedural law and arbitration procedural law.

According to the article, if passed, it would start beginning January 1, 2011.