Preserving evidence in Russia after cross-border fraud
Money left through a Russian bank, a Russian counterparty, a Russian platform or a Russian address. Before any recovery route is chosen, the Russian side of the evidence has to be preserved — and the routes are more than one.
Preserve first, choose the route second
Transfers, wallet addresses, counterparty details, platform records, correspondence and the exact timeline — these degrade fast and cannot be rebuilt later. Once preserved in a usable form, they support any route: a Russian criminal complaint, a Russian civil claim, a foreign proceeding that needs Russian evidence, or a remission claim elsewhere. Choosing a route first and gathering evidence second is the usual way such cases fail.
Criminal and civil routes in Russia are different tools
A criminal complaint in Russia can trigger investigation and asset measures, but it is not a claim for your money and its pace is not yours to control. A civil claim is yours to bring and to prove — and requires a defendant who can be identified and served. We explain which route fits the facts, what each realistically produces, and where both are unavailable, we say so.
This is work we do
Cross-border matters where money or evidence sat in Russia are part of the office's practice — including a civil dispute in which the same transfer had to be read under two legal systems, and matters where a Russian proceeding supported a claim brought abroad. Recovery depends on where the money is and what documents survive, so it is never promised — but the sequence of work is one we have run.
When this applies
What the lawyer does
What to have ready
Where it usually goes wrong
Next step
Review the documents, deadlines, jurisdiction and a realistic legal position
A consultation helps you see the structure of the dispute and the available steps — without promising an outcome.
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