Русско-англо-русский юридический словарь

In Russian law, there is a concept of a preliminary agreement, which is an agreement to enter into a binding agreement in future on the terms described in the pleliminary agreement. Preliminary agreement has a binding effect on the parties. Therefore, there is a risk that a memorandum of understanding, letter of intent, or any other similar arrangements, if governed by Russian law, may be treated as "preliminary agreements" and, therefore, have a binding effect on the parties. (International Stock Purchase Acquisitions: Summaries of International Law, American Bar Association, 2006, Google Books)