Author: Mr. Gökhan Cindemir , Phd Candidate , Senior Partner Lawyer cindemir@cindemir.av.tr

Under Turkish Law, there is a difference between recognition of foreign decision and enforcement of the decision. Applicant may ask recognition of the foreign decision solely but the decision on recognition will not enable applicant to enforce the decision by the execution department. For instance, divorce can be recognized after the court decision and records regarding the marriage under Turkish records regarding the marriage between spouses will be deleted but the content of foreign decision such as alimony issue, compensation issue will not take effect in Turkey due to solely recognition request. Which means that alimony, guardianship and compensation issues cannot be executed by execution department. Legal conditions of “recognition” of foreign court decision are more liberal than enforcement of the content.

On the other hand, an applicant can file a lawsuit by requesting “recognition and enforcement” of a foreign decision. In that case, legal conditions of the enforcement which are stricter than recognition will come to an issue. The main difference of the condition between recognition and enforcement procedure is the condition of “reciprocity”. In recognition procedure, Turkish Courts don’t seek reciprocity criteria. Relevant provisions regarding recognition and enforcement is indicated in the end of the article.

Considering our specific title of the article, Russian Decisions can be recognized in Turkey. On the other hand, enforcement of the Russian Decisions is very complicated in Turkey currently. Unlike Russian Civil Code, Turkey inserted provisions regarding enforcement and recognition of the foreign decisions into its International Private Code. In addition, Turkish provisions concerned are more liberal than Russian provisions. Reciprocity criteria of Turkey is not only depended on the international and mutual agreement as regulated in Russia (Disregarding Supreme Court Decision).

Under Turkish Reciprocity Conditions are as following:

1. Existence of an agreement, on a reciprocal basis between the Republic of Turkey and the state where the court decision is given
2. A provision of law enabling the authorization of the execution of final decisions given by a Turkish court in that state,
3. De facto practice enabling the authorization of the execution of final decisions given by a Turkish court in that state,

In case one of these conditions is existing and if one of them will be proved in the lawsuit, then there will be no problem regarding the reciprocity issue.

Reciprocity conditions are debatable. In that case, all cases must be examined based on their specific content.

Chapter II. Enforcement and Recognition of Decisions of Foreign Courts and Arbitral

Awards

Enforcement of Court decrees

Article 50-

(1) Enforcement of court decrees rendered by foreign courts in the course of civil lawsuits in Turkey which are final

pursuant to the law of that foreign state shall be subject to the enforcement decision of the competent Turkish court.

(2) Enforcement decision may also be requested with regard to judgments on personal rights stipulated in the court

decrees of foreign criminal courts.

Jurisdiction and Competency

Article 51-

(1) The Courts of First Instance (3) shall have jurisdiction over enforcement decisions.

(2) These decisions shall be requested from the court at the place of habitual residence of the person against whom

enforcement is requested if he/she does have a domicile in Turkey, or from one of the courts in Istanbul, Ankara, or Izmir

if he/she does not have a domicile or habitual residence in Turkey.

Request for Enforcement of Court Decrees

Article 52-

(1) Anyone who has legal interest in enforcement of a decree can request so. Enforcement shall be requested by a

petition. Copies of the petition in the number of opposing parties shall be attached. The petition shall contain the

following:

1. a) The names, surnames, and addresses of the parties and their legal representatives, if any,
2. b) The court of the state that has rendered the decree subject to the enforcement and the name of the court, the date

and number of the decree, and a summary of the judgment,

1. c) If partial enforcement is sought, an indication as to which part of the decree is the subject of the request.

Documents to Be Attached to the Petition

Article 53-

(1) The following documents are to be attached to the petition:

1. a) The original copy of the court decree certified by the authorities of the foreign state or an exemplar of the decree

certified by that organ of jurisdiction and a certified translation thereof,

1. b) A document or written statement from the authorities of the state which officially confirms that the court decree is final

and a certified translation thereof.

Conditions of Enforcement

Article 54-

(1) The competent court shall render enforcement subject to the following conditions:

1. a) Existence of an agreement, on a reciprocal basis between the Republic of Turkey and the state where the court

decision is given or a de facto practice or a provision of law enabling the authorization of the execution of final

decisions given by a Turkish court in that state,

1. b) The judgment must have been given on matters not falling within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Turkish courts or, in

condition of being contested by the defendant, the judgment must not have been given by a state court which has

accepted himself competent even if there is not a real relation between the court and the subject or the parties of the

lawsuit,

1. c) The court decree shall not openly be contrary to public order,
2. d) The person against whom enforcement is requested was not duly summoned pursuant to the laws of that foreign state

or to the court that has given the judgment, or was not represented before that court, or the court decree was not

pronounced in his/her absence or by a default judgment in a manner contrary to these laws, and the person has not

objected to the exequatur based on the foregoing grounds before the Turkish court,

Notification and Objection

Article 55-

(1) The petition for the request for enforcement shall be served upon the opposing party and shall contain the date of the

hearing. Recognition and enforcement of undisputed court decrees are also subject to the same provision. For

recognition of undisputed court decrees the provision of notification shall not be applied. The request is to be reviewed

and resolved by the court in accordance with the provisions of simple trial procedure.

(2) The opposing party may only raise objection by claiming that the enforcement conditions under the provisions of this

chapter are not present or that the foreign court decree was partially or wholly executed or a reason hindering the

enforcement has arisen.

Court Decision

Article 56-

(1) The court may decide for full or partial enforcement of the foreign court decree or may dismiss the request. This

decision shall be written on the foreign court decision and signed and sealed by the judge.

Execution and Appeal

Article 57-

(1) Foreign court decrees for which enforcement is rendered shall be executed as court decrees rendered by the Turkish

courts.

(2) Court decrees regarding dismissal or acceptance of the enforcement request may be appealed pursuant to the

general provisions of the Civil Procedure Law. The appeal suspends the execution.

Recognition

Article 58-

(1) A foreign court decree may serve as a definitive evidence or final judgment, provided that the court decides that the

foreign court decree fulfills the conditions of enforcement. Subparagraph (a) of Article 54 shall not apply to recognition.

(2) The same article shall apply to the recognition of undisputed court decrees.

(3) The same procedure shall apply in concluding an administrative transaction based on a foreign court decree.

Final Judgment and Definitive Evidence Effect

Article 59-

(1) A foreign court decree serve as a definitive evidence or final judgment from the time the foreign court judgment

becomes definitive.