Recovery of payment under a Russian sale contract starts with the agreed price, delivery evidence and the payment date. The legal position differs where the parties agreed prepayment, credit, instalments or a right to withhold further deliveries.
Core payment rule
Unless the contract or law provides otherwise, the buyer must pay immediately before or after delivery. If no instalments are agreed, the transferred goods must be paid for in full. The contract, specifications, invoices and delivery terms need to be considered together.
What the seller should evidence
- the contract, order, specification and agreed price;
- proof of transfer or delivery of the goods;
- invoices, acceptance documents and transport records where relevant;
- the agreed payment date and a debt calculation;
- pre-action correspondence and any contractual notice procedure.
Late payment
Where payment for delivered goods is late, the seller may claim the price and interest under Article 395 of the Russian Civil Code, subject to the contract and applicable rules. If the agreement provides a penalty for non-performance, the relationship between the penalty and statutory interest must be assessed under the contract and law.
Credit and instalments
For a sale on credit, payment is due by the agreed date; for instalments, the agreement must identify the price, payment procedure, timing and amounts. Special consumer-sale rules can apply to retail transactions.
Legal framework
Key provisions include Articles 486, 488, 489 and 395 of the Russian Civil Code. This material is general information and not a substitute for advice on a specific claim.