Russian bailiffs to gain access to information on Russians’ accounts and property in CIS countries

Russian bailiffs to gain access to information on Russians’ accounts and property in CIS countries

Russian court bailiffs will be able to obtain information about Russians’ bank accounts, income, and property in CIS countries. Vladimir Putin has ratified the relevant agreement, First Department noted.

Important update. As the human rights organization Kovcheg pointed out, in addition to Russia, only six CIS countries signed the data-sharing agreement: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. They already cooperate actively with Moscow. Armenia did not sign the document, so we have removed it from the news item.

Under the agreement, Russia’s Federal Bailiff Service (FSSP) will be able to request information about Russians from its counterparts in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.

The agreement will allow Russian authorities to search abroad for debtors’ property, including that of people who relocated for political reasons, explained First Department lawyer Yevgeny Smirnov.

“The Russian authorities can issue a ruling to seize a citizen’s property outside Russia, and then a court in the country where the Russian resides will recognize that ruling and hand it over to local bailiffs for enforcement.”

@meduzalive