Parties

   Claimant and defendant shall be the parties in civil legal proceedings.

      Claimants shall be citizens and legal entities, which filed a lawsuit with the purpose of protecting their violated or disputed rights and liberties, legal interests, or for protection of which a lawsuit has been filed by other persons according to procedure stipulated by this Law.

      Defendants shall be citizens and legal entities, to which a legal claim has been raised.

       In cases stipulated by law the parties may be also organizations, which are not legal entities.

       A person, for the benefit of whom a case has been initiated upon application of persons, who have the right to address court for protection of rights, liberties and interests of other persons protected by law, shall be notified by the court of initiated proceedings and shall participate therein as defendant.

       The state may be a party to civil legal proceedings.

       Parties shall have equal procedural rights and shall bear equal procedural obligations.