The legal regulation of bankruptcy procedures in Russia is actively improving. Evidence of this is the nine federal laws adopted in 2013 which substantially amend Federal Law No. 127-FZ "On insolvency (bankruptcy)" as well as other regulations that deal with bankruptcy regulation. Some of these will come into force during 2014.

            Правовое регулирование процедур банкротства в России в настоящее время продолжает активно совершенствоваться. Об этом свидетельствует принятие в 2013 году девяти федеральных законов, которыми были внесены существенные изменения в ФЗ «О несостоятельности (банкротстве)» № 127-ФЗ, а также иные связанные с регламентацией банкротства нормативные акты, часть из которых вступит в силу в течение 2014 года.

This issue considers the most important provisions of the resolution adopted at the Plenary Session of the Supreme Commercial Court of the Russian Federation (the “SCC”) No. 88, dated 6 December 2013, “On Accrual and Payment of Interest on Creditors’ Claims in Insolvency” (the “Resolution”)1. The Resolution resolves a number of important practical issues and creates new regulations governing, in particular:

Russia has continually been working to improve the functioning of its judicial system and the administration of justice for more than two decades. The active reforms began with a decree by the Russian president creating the judiciary as a branch of the state, separate from the legislature and the executive, and these reforms have yet to be completed. In fact, we are now seeing a new level of reform, in which the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation will cease to exist and its powers will pass to the newly formed Supreme Court of Russia.

On 30 July 2012, the Presidium of the Supreme Commercial Court of the Russian Federation (the “SCC”) released a Review of its rulings of the Presidium of the SCC on major issues of private law for June 2012. In particular, the Review indicated that during bankruptcy proceedings, a creditor’s claim upheld by an arbitration ruling may be included in the list of creditors without a writ of execution.  

On July 28, 2012, Russian president Vladimir Putin gave his imprimatur to Federal Law No. 144-FZ, which amends Russian bankruptcy, financial, and banking legislation with the goal of improving regulations governing asset returns and interim management of insolvent banks. Among other things, the amendments change Russian insolvency law to remove executive compensation and bonuses from the list of priority claims in cases involving insolvent companies.

Литовцева Юлия, руководитель группы практики

разрешения споров и медиации «Пепеляев Групп»,

кандидат юридических наук

For the attention of company managers and financial, tax, legal and litigation departments.

Pepeliaev Group advises of the publication, on 13 February 2013, of Resolution No. 11 of the Plenum of the Russian Supreme Arbitration Court (SAC) dated 25 January 2013 “On paying value added tax when the property of an insolvent debtor is disposed of”. This resolves,  to the benefit of creditors and buyers of bankrupt companies’ property, issues relating to the procedure and regime for paying VAT.

Постановление Девятого арбитражного апелляционного суда от 19.06.2012

Участники спора

Конкурсный управляющий

ЗАО «Цифровая электроника» ЗАО «Цифровая электроника» (Должник)

ОАО «СИТРОНИКС» (сторона оспариваемой сделки с Должником, Кредитор)

Фабула дела

Resolution of the Ninth Commercial (‘Arbitration’) Court of Appeal

dated 19 June 2012

Parties in dispute

Receiver of Digital Electronics CJSC

Digital Electronics CJSC (the “Debtor”)

SITRONICS OJSC (a party to the challenged transaction with the Debtor, the “Creditor”)

Narrative