Alert: important development in Russian corporate registry searches for asset tracing

Alert: Important development in Russian corporate registry searches for asset tracing Effective: April 2026

Russian corporate registry searches — a foundational step in any asset tracing exercise or enforcement preparation — have become materially more restricted under current Russian practice. Two concurrent developments now directly affect foreign creditors and their counsel: first, personal data restrictions limiting public access to beneficial ownership and directorship information in EGRUL extracts; second, a currency requirement applied by courts in a number of arbitrazh circuits, under which EGRUL extracts older than 30 days at the time of claim filing are treated as procedurally deficient and may result in the claim being left without movement pending correction.

Foreign creditors who have relied on EGRUL searches conducted at the outset of a matter — often weeks or months before proceedings are filed — should treat those searches as requiring refresh before any enforcement step. The combination of restricted data access and the 30-day filing rule creates a practical gap: the extract available to a foreign creditor through standard channels may be both incomplete and time-expired by the point it is most needed. Asset tracing strategies that assumed a single registry search at the instruction stage are no longer adequate under current Russian law and court practice.

Recommended steps:

1. Refresh all EGRUL searches currently relied upon in pending enforcement matters to confirm they fall within the 30-day window required at the point of filing.
2. Engage qualified Russian counsel to obtain full extracts through professional FTS access channels — foreign entities encounter access restrictions that Russian-qualified lawyers can navigate directly via the Federal Tax Service professional portal.
3. Request a formal check of whether the target entity has applied for restricted registry status — this is not disclosed in a standard extract and requires a separate enquiry procedure.

For foreign creditors preparing enforcement in Russia, the firm's Asset Tracing & Recovery practice can advise on current registry access procedures and enforcement timelines.

Speak to our team — info@vetrovpartners.com | WhatsApp/Telegram: +7 (983) 510-38-76

Vetrov & Partners is a Russian boutique law firm established in 2009, recognised by Pravo-300 for eight consecutive years. The firm's asset tracing and recovery practice advises foreign creditors and institutional investors on locating and enforcing against assets held through Russian entities. Enquiries: info@vetrovpartners.com | WhatsApp / Telegram: +7 (983) 510-38-76 | t.me/vitvetcom

This alert is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Vetrov & Partners is a Russian-qualified law firm. Contact info@vetrovpartners.com for advice on your specific situation.

— Elizaveta Razina Senior Lawyer, Practice Lead – IP Enforcement, Vetrov & Partners vetrovpartners.com/razina/