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
Disputes of this shape are part of the office's practice: the structure had to be examined under both jurisdictions at once, and the Russian materials read the way a foreign court would read them. Recovery depends on where the money is and what documents survive, so it is never promised.
When this applies
What the lawyer does
What to have ready
Where it usually goes wrong
How we start
- Send a short, non-confidential summary: the countries involved, the type and date of any existing court orders or documents, whether proceedings are pending and the next deadline.
- We run a conflict check on that summary. Until it is cleared, please do not send names, identity documents, account details or sealed filings.
- If there is no conflict, we agree the Russian-law scope and a secure way to transfer documents.
Please do not send account credentials, seed phrases, one-time codes or complete bank statements.
We practise Russian law and are not admitted in any U.S. state or federal court. Questions of U.S. law, admissibility and U.S. procedure belong to locally admitted counsel.
Questions and answers
- Can the outcome be guaranteed in advance?
- No. Documents, risks, deadlines and legal options can be assessed, but the result depends on the facts and on the decisions of the competent authorities. Everything depends strictly on the situation and the materials provided.
- Do you advise on U.S. law?
- No. The Russian lawyer advises on Russian law and handles Russian proceedings. Questions of U.S. state or federal law, procedure and admissibility are for counsel admitted in the relevant U.S. jurisdiction.
- What happens first?
- A conflict check on a short, non-confidential description of the matter. Sensitive documents are exchanged only after scope and a secure channel are agreed.
Consultation
Discuss your situation
Briefly describe the situation, the countries involved and any deadlines. The fee and format are agreed before the consultation.
Or write directly — your first message will already say which page you came from: