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First Bankruptcy Petition Against State Duma Deputy Filed in Russia

Ivan Sukharev

The first bankruptcy petition against a Russian State Duma deputy has been filed since the personal bankruptcy law came into force at the beginning of the month, the TASS news agency reported Friday.

A petition has been filed against LDPR Deputy Ivan Sukharev with the Arbitration Court of the Russian republic of Bashkortostan, TASS reported, citing a spokesperson for the court whose name was not given.

The petition was filed by Sukharev's former colleague Ruslan Yevsyukov, a lawyer at Nalogovaya Bezopasnost in the Bashkir city of Ufa, Kommersant reported.

Yevsyukov wants Sukharev declared bankrupt for debt allegedly totaling 4.37 million rubles ($71,600), Kommersant reported Friday.

Russia's first personal bankruptcy law, which came into force on Oct. 1, means that any Russian whose debt exceeds 500,000 rubles ($8,130) and has missed payments for more than 90 days can be declared bankrupt.

According to data from the United Credit Bureau, which monitors credit history, 580,000 Russians, or 1.5 percent of the total number of debt holders, qualify for bankruptcy from Oct. 1.

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