Legislation implemented for public access to list of individuals not meeting child support obligations
Russia Introduces Public Debt Register for Overdue Alimony Payments
A public registry of individuals who have failed to meet their alimony obligations has been launched on the website of the Federal Bailiff Service (FSSP) of Russia on May 25, following the publication of a relevant federal law on the official portal of legal acts.
The registry enlists non-payers who have been administratively or criminally charged, as well as those declared fugitives. The debt refers to child maintenance for minors, adult and incapacitated children, and non-employed parents. At its inception, the registry reportedly included approximately 190,000 individuals. Information about a non-payer will remain listed until the full repayment of the alimony debt.
Russia's First Deputy Minister of Justice, Yevgeny Zabarchuk, has suggested potential additional punitive measures, such as a ban on car registration and attendances at matches through Fan ID cards for such debtors. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Justice has proposed limiting access to state-run internet services, blocking loan issuances, and barring employment in government and municipal jobs.
The current law, "On Enforcement Proceedings," already imposes temporary travel restrictions on non-payers of alimony. Foreign trips may be denied to debtors with accumulated debt exceeding 30,000 rubles who have not responded within five days without valid reasons. If the debt remains unpaid for two months from the initiation of enforcement proceedings, a restriction on leaving Russia is imposed with a debt of at least 10,000 rubles. Online payment options are available for debtors via the "Bank of Executive Documents" electronic service on the FSSP of Russia's official website and the "Digital Enforcement Proceedings" service on "Gosuslugi"'s website.
Recently, DK.RU reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law in summer 2023, granting fathers the right to alimony when caring for a child.
In the context of enforcing alimony debt repayment, the Russian legal system already offers various measures, such as temporary restrictions on driving and other activities, although these specific measures are not explicitly mentioned for alimony debtors at present.
The Ministry of Justice is reportedly considering further measures to enforce alimony payments, including preventing individuals from using state internet services, limiting loans and borrowings, and restricting employment in government and municipal roles.
The Ministry of Justice is exploring the possibility of limiting access to state-run internet services and barring employment in government and municipal jobs as additional measures for individuals who are behind on their alimony payments. Given the introduction of the public debt register for overdue alimony payments, it's plausible that such debtors may also face restrictions in obtaining business and finance services.
