The head of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, Konstantin Chuichenko, raised concerns about the way debt collection measures are applied by the Federal Bailiff Service. Speaking at a department meeting, he urged the enforcement authority to reevaluate current practices to avoid actions that exceed the actual amount of debt. The discussion focused on the results of the ministry’s 2022 activities and carried a call for practical adjustments to enforcement procedures.
Chuichenko emphasized that in some cases the enforcement steps taken by bailiffs appear disproportionate to the debt that is being pursued. He pointed to examples where enforcement actions reached far beyond the value of the debt, creating a mismatch between what is owed and what is being collected through coercive measures. This observation highlighted the risk that recovery efforts may sometimes hurt the debtor more than the original obligation warrants.
According to the minister, the Federal Bailiff Service should implement changes that align its enforcement methods with the actual debt burden. He suggested refining working practices and, if needed, collaborating with the Ministry of Justice on legislative proposals to ensure that measures taken are fair, effective, and properly scaled to the debt involved.
This discussion follows recent updates in the debt enforcement landscape in Russia, including measures that could suspend or partially suspend enforcement proceedings for certain categories of debtors. The government is weighing different mechanisms to balance robust debt collection with safeguards against overreach, aiming to uphold the rights of those obligated to pay while maintaining the integrity of the enforcement system.
Overall, the exchange underscored a broader policy objective: optimize enforcement efficiency without letting punitive actions surpass the debtor’s owed amount. The ministry’s leadership signaled openness to adjustments and to ongoing dialogue with the enforcement agency to ensure that enforcement practices are both effective and proportionate to the debt obligations involved.