Business Crime Defence in Russia:
For Foreign Executives Under Criminal Exposure

Pravo-300 · 8 years |

Best Lawyers Russia |

Kommersant |

1,000+ matters |

15+ years

Practice
Est. 2009 · Practice No. 06

About This Practice

For a foreign national serving as a director, CEO, CFO, or senior executive of a Russian company, the Russian criminal code presents exposures that are structurally different from those faced by domestic executives. The intersection of Russian criminal law with the corporate governance of a Russian entity — particularly in the context of economic crime allegations under Articles 159 (fraud), 199 (tax evasion), and 201 (abuse of authority) — creates personal liability risk that arises not from the foreign executive's intent but from the position of trust they hold. At Vetrov & Partners, our business crime defence practice advises foreign executives and shareholders of Russian companies at the stage when the risk is still manageable: before a formal charge is filed, during the investigation, and — when necessary — through the proceedings themselves. We are experienced in advising clients on travel restriction risk, extradition exposure, and the protection of personal assets during criminal proceedings.

Who We Act For

Our business crime defence instructions come predominantly from foreign nationals employed in senior positions at Russian companies and from foreign shareholders of Russian companies facing criminal allegations.

Client situations:
You are a foreign CEO or CFO of a Russian operating company. You have received notice that the company is under criminal investigation for alleged tax evasion under Article 199 of the Criminal Code. As the company's senior official, you may be named as a suspect. You need to understand your personal exposure and what steps you can take immediately to protect your position.

You are a foreign director of a Russian company. A shareholder dispute has escalated and the opposing party has filed a criminal complaint alleging fraud under Article 159 in connection with a corporate transaction you approved. You need defence counsel to advise on the criminal exposure and on the interaction between the criminal complaint and the parallel civil dispute.

You are an expat executive who is currently outside Russia and has become aware that a criminal investigation has been opened against you or the company you directed. You are concerned about travel restrictions and the risk of extradition if you return to Russia or travel to certain third countries. You need an immediate risk assessment.

You are an international company's General Counsel. One of your senior executives posted to Russia has been detained or summoned for questioning in connection with a criminal investigation. You need Russian criminal defence counsel who can advise the executive and coordinate with your international legal team on the overall response.

You are a foreign shareholder of a Russian company. The company's former management has been charged with misappropriation under Article 159. You are concerned about your own exposure as a shareholder and about the risk that the criminal proceedings will affect your ability to control or exit your investment.

What We Do

We do not provide a general criminal defence service for all matters. Our practice is specifically structured around the criminal exposure of foreign executives and shareholders of Russian companies — economic crime, tax crime, and corporate fraud allegations in which the foreign connection is a material feature of the case.

When a foreign executive first becomes aware of a criminal investigation — whether from a formal notice, an approach from investigators, or information received informally — the first priority is a structured risk assessment: what are the alleged offences, what is the available evidence, what is the executive's procedural status (witness, suspect, or accused), and what immediate steps are available. We provide this assessment within the shortest possible timeframe from instruction.

Criminal risk assessment for foreign executives

Russian criminal investigations are managed by the Investigative Committee or by the police. At the investigation stage — before charges are formally brought — the suspect or their counsel can participate in investigative steps, submit evidence and legal positions to the investigator, and apply to challenge procedural decisions. Managing the investigation stage effectively is frequently more determinative of the ultimate outcome than the court proceedings themselves.

Defence at the investigation stage

Russian legislation has expanded the grounds on which parallel-import goods can be admitted to the Russian market — meaning that goods bearing an original trademark may be imported through channels other than the brand owner's authorised distributor. We advise on the legal scope of the parallel import provisions as they apply to a specific brand owner's market, on the tools available to limit parallel import activity, and on distribution agreement structuring to maintain enforceability.

Parallel import defence

Where criminal proceedings are commenced, we appear as defence counsel at all stages: preliminary hearings, the main trial, appeal, and cassation review. We manage the full procedural cycle and coordinate with the client's overseas counsel and employer where the matter requires an international response.

Representation in criminal proceedings

Russian criminal investigations frequently involve applications by the investigator for travel restrictions — a measure that prevents the subject from leaving Russia during the investigation. We advise on the grounds for applying travel restrictions, the procedure for challenging them, and the circumstances in which an application for modification or removal of the restriction is available. We also advise on the protection of personal assets — including assets held outside Russia — from interim measures applied in the context of criminal proceedings.

Travel restriction and asset protection advice

For foreign nationals who are outside Russia when a criminal investigation is opened, the risk of extradition depends on whether Russia has a bilateral extradition treaty with the country of the executive's nationality and the country in which they are present, and on the political and legal context of the specific case. We advise on extradition risk and on the legal position in Russia on requests for international legal assistance in criminal matters.

Extradition risk assessment

Russian criminal proceedings against executives of insolvent companies frequently overlap with subsidiary liability proceedings in the insolvency. We advise on the interaction between the criminal proceedings and the civil subsidiary liability track, and we coordinate strategy between the two where both are in progress.

Subsidiary liability interface

Criminal allegations against foreign executives frequently have an international dimension — whether in the form of parallel investigations in the executive's home jurisdiction, asset freezing orders in foreign courts, or the reputational impact in the employer's home market. We coordinate with the client's international legal team to ensure that the Russian defence strategy is consistent with the overall approach.

Coordination with international legal teams

By the Numbers

Representative Matters

Advised European CEO of Russian manufacturing company at investigation stage following tax evasion allegation. Managed investigative steps. Proceedings closed at pre-charge stage.

European CEO · Article 199 tax evasion · investigation stage · risk managed

Defended foreign CFO against criminal fraud complaint arising from shareholders' dispute. Coordinated criminal defence with parallel civil proceedings. Complaint dismissed at investigation stage.

Foreign CFO · Article 159 fraud · corporate transaction · concurrent civil dispute

Advised expat executive outside Russia on extradition risk and travel restriction position following opening of criminal investigation. Conducted extradition risk analysis for three jurisdictions.

Expat executive · outside Russia · travel restriction · extradition assessment

Acted for detained foreign executive of Russian company. Secured right of access for defence counsel within forty-eight hours. Represented executive through investigation and initial hearings.

International employer · detained executive · immediate response · criminal representation

Defended foreign shareholder against criminal fraud complaint filed by former business partner in connection with exit transaction. Complaint challenged on legal and evidentiary grounds. Referred to civil proceedings.

Foreign shareholder · criminal complaint from former partner · Article 159 defence

info@vetrovpartners.com
+7 (983) 510-38-76
Response: under 2 hours (Mon–Fri 09:00–20:00, Sat 10:00–15:00 UTC+7)

The Partner

Vitaliy Vetrov, Managing Partner

Vitaliy Vetrov leads Vetrov & Partners' business crime defence practice, advising foreign executives and shareholders of Russian companies on criminal exposure arising from economic crime allegations, tax investigations, and corporate fraud complaints. He has managed business crime defence instructions at the investigation stage and through trial, including matters involving foreign nationals outside Russia with travel restriction and extradition exposure.

His practice in this area focuses on the criminal risk profile of foreign executives in Russian corporate positions: the intersection of Articles 159, 199, and 201 of the Criminal Code with the governance of Russian companies, the management of the investigation stage to minimise exposure before charges are brought, and the coordination of criminal defence strategy with parallel civil and insolvency proceedings.

We regularly act as Russian defence counsel in matters where the client's primary legal advisers are based overseas — coordinating across jurisdictions and advising on the Russian criminal law position within an internationally managed response.

Recognised by Pravo-300   ·  Listed in Best Lawyers Russia

The Team

Recognition

We do not hold rankings from Chambers Global or Legal 500 in this practice area.

How We Work

Every engagement begins with a short description of your situation sent to one person, who reads it the same day.

We close every matter with a written assessment of the outcome and, where relevant, an advisory note on what the experience reveals about the client's continuing exposure in the Russian operating environment.

Step 5 · Matter close

The practice lead manages all material procedural steps personally. We maintain confidentiality in all external communications and coordinate with the client's employer and international legal team under a clearly agreed protocol.

Step 4 · Execution

Written scope, including an immediate priority list — the steps to be taken in the first twenty-four and forty-eight hours — and a longer-term strategy overview.

Step 3 · Written scope

A complimentary thirty-minute call with the practice lead. For urgent matters — a detained executive, a summons to appear at short notice — we manage the initial steps before the call and brief the client on the position in real time.

Step 2 · Complimentary call

Send us three paragraphs: the nature of the investigation or allegation, the executive's current location (Russia or abroad), and the procedural status if known (witness, suspect, accused, or not yet determined). We will respond within two hours — for business crime defence matters, we treat all enquiries as urgent and respond as quickly as practicable.

Step 1 · Initial enquiry

Fees

For defined investigation-stage steps — initial risk assessment, appearance at investigative actions — fixed-fee arrangements are available. We invoice in EUR or USD. We provide a written fee estimate within twenty-four hours of your enquiry.

Questions

Last reviewed: May 2026

Related Practices

Corporate Governance for Foreign Shareholders

Asset Protection & Wealth Structuring

Restructuring & Insolvency

Cross-border Disputes & Arbitration

Further Reading

Criminal Risk for Foreign Executives in Russian Companies: The Article 159/199 Exposure Map

Practice Analysis

Managing the Investigation Stage: What Happens Before Criminal Charges Are Filed in Russia

Practice Analysis

Travel Restrictions and Extradition Risk: A Practical Assessment for Foreign Nationals

Practice Analysis

Make an Enquiry

ALTERNATIVE CONTACTS
Email: info@vetrovpartners.com
Phone (office): +7 (383) 310-38-76
Mobile / WhatsApp / Telegram: +7 (983) 510-38-76
Telegram channel: t.me/vitvetcom
Hours: Mon–Fri 09:00–20:00 · Sat 10:00–15:00 (UTC+7)
Response: Under 2 hours (business hours)

ADDRESS:
Deputatskaya Street 46, Office 1191, 19th Floor
Novosibirsk, Russia

Vetrov & Partners is a Russian-qualified law firm. For matters governed
by foreign law or requiring local admission in other jurisdictions,
we collaborate with trusted counsel in the relevant jurisdiction.

Vetrov & Partners · Boutique Law Firm · Established 2009 · Russia

The contents of this page are provided for informational purposes and
do not constitute legal advice. No solicitor–client relationship is
formed by reading this page. Vetrov & Partners is registered and
practising in Russia. © 2026 Vetrov & Partners.