The consequences of Russian personal bankruptcy are not a blanket ban on credit. For five years after asset realisation ends, a debtor must disclose the bankruptcy when entering a new credit or loan agreement, cannot initiate another court bankruptcy and faces temporary restrictions on managing organisations. Russian law does not impose a general post-case ban on employment, owning property, opening accounts or travelling abroad.
Restrictions after bankruptcy
| Consequence | Period | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| New credit or loan | 5 years | The bankruptcy must be disclosed; credit is not automatically prohibited |
| Debtor’s repeat petition | 5 years | The debtor cannot start another court case; a creditor petition may have special consequences |
| Management of an ordinary company | 3 years | No positions in management bodies or other participation in management |
| Insurers, pension funds, investment managers and microfinance companies | 5 years | Special management restriction |
| Credit institution | 10 years | No participation in management |
What happens to debts
As a general rule, after distributions are completed the debtor is released from further performance, including claims not filed in the case. The court still examines good faith, and the statute expressly preserves certain obligations.
Usually discharged
Unpaid monetary obligations covered by the court’s discharge ruling.
May survive
Maintenance, personal injury, moral harm, current claims and other personal claims listed by law.
Refusal of discharge
Possible after concealment of assets, false information, fraud or other established bad faith.
New obligations
Later liabilities do not vanish merely because an earlier bankruptcy case ended.
Consequences for a spouse and relatives
Relatives do not become liable automatically, and their personal property is not part of the estate solely because of kinship. Joint marital property, common obligations and transactions with connected persons may nevertheless be reviewed. A spouse may participate in disputes concerning common property and their share is handled under the statute and Supreme Court guidance.
Transferring assets to a relative before filing is not a safe harbour. A suspect transaction may be challenged, although kinship alone does not make every transfer invalid: timing, price, purpose, knowledge and creditor harm matter.
What bankruptcy does not automatically prohibit
- employment or lawful self-employment;
- opening bank accounts after the procedure;
- buying property with lawful income;
- receiving credit if the lender agrees and disclosure is made;
- travelling abroad after the case unless another lawful restriction applies;
- marriage or liability for a relative’s personal debt.
How to assess personal risks before filing
- List all debts and identify claims that may survive.
- Review assets, marital shares, security and sole-home issues.
- Analyse transactions and transfers for legally relevant periods.
- Check corporate positions and profession-specific limits.
- Identify facts a creditor might use to oppose discharge.
- Compare court bankruptcy with the MFC out-of-court procedure.
Frequently asked questions
Is borrowing prohibited after bankruptcy?
No. For five years the bankruptcy must be disclosed when entering a credit or loan agreement. The lender decides whether to approve it.
Are relatives liable for the debtor?
Kinship alone creates no liability. A guarantee, common debt, marital property or a challenged transaction may matter.
Can a person file again?
For five years the debtor cannot initiate another court case. A creditor-filed case carries special discharge rules. Out-of-court bankruptcy is regulated separately.
Are all debts discharged?
No. Statutory exceptions survive, and discharge may be refused after established misconduct.
Official sources
- Federal Law No. 127-FZ, Article 213.28;
- Federal Law No. 127-FZ, Article 213.30;
- Russian Supreme Court Plenum Resolution No. 48 of 25 December 2018;
- Supreme Court personal bankruptcy review of 18 June 2025.
Related guidance
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