Notice: Russian regulatory deadline relating to enforcing English court orders in Russia

Alert: Russian regulatory deadline — enforcing English court orders in Russia Effective: See body — creditors should verify the applicable window without delay.

A procedural requirement in Russian enforcement practice has introduced a compliance deadline that directly affects foreign creditors relying on English court orders to support recovery action against Russian assets. Creditors who do not address this step within the applicable window risk losing a viable route to enforcement in Russian proceedings.

Who is affected and why it matters

Foreign creditors holding English court orders — whether freezing orders, judgment debts, or injunctive relief — who are seeking to use those orders in Russian enforcement or insolvency proceedings face a materially different procedural landscape than was the position under earlier practice. Russian courts do not recognise English court orders as directly enforceable in the absence of a bilateral treaty between Russia and the United Kingdom. However, such orders have been accepted as supporting evidence in Russian creditor proceedings, asset-tracing applications, and bankruptcy claims, subject to a timely and correctly documented submission. The current procedural position requires that any foreign court order relied upon in Russian proceedings be accompanied by a full set of legalised supporting documents — apostilled originals, certified translations into Russian, and where applicable, evidence of service — lodged within the period permitted by the relevant Russian court or insolvency administrator. Creditors who have already obtained English court orders but have not yet taken steps to present them in Russian proceedings should treat this as a priority action item.

Recommended action

1. Confirm the status of any English court order you intend to rely upon in Russian proceedings and identify the applicable Russian forum — whether a state arbitrazh court, a general jurisdiction court, or the insolvency administrator's claims register.
2. Arrange apostillation, certified Russian-language translation, and any further legalisation of your English court documentation without delay; translation and notarisation timelines in cross-border matters commonly extend to several weeks.
3. Instruct Russian qualified counsel to assess whether your order can be used as supporting evidence in the specific Russian proceedings and to file within any applicable procedural deadline.

For further background on the legislative landscape affecting this issue, see our analysis at Enforcing English Court Orders in Russia — Legislative Update and our practitioner briefing at Enforcing English Court Orders in Russia — Practical Briefing.

Foreign creditors holding English court orders against Russian counterparties should take advice on their procedural position before the relevant window closes. Make an enquiry: info@vetrovpartners.com | WhatsApp/Telegram: +7 (983) 510-38-76

Vetrov & Partners advises foreign creditors on asset tracing, cross-border enforcement, and creditor-side insolvency strategy in Russia. Direct partner involvement on every engagement. 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/