Andrey Kolesnikov’s report on Vladimir Putin’s meeting with the head of the FSPP, where the president learned a lot, seemingly unexpected for himself

On August 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the head of the Federal Bailiff Service, Dmitry Aristov, and learned a lot, seemingly unexpected for himself. So, at least the portrait of an average debtor to Russia looked impressive. Special Correspondent “Kommersant” Andrey Kolesnikov even wanted to collect from someone.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dmitry Aristov reported on the main achievements of the Bailiff Service for the “past period”. Moreover, it was not clear what period the bailiffs consider expired. And whether, for example, the expired period coincides with the expired period. And what period for them is term.

Complete clarity never came. Dmitry Aristov said that “in 2020-2021, a comprehensive reform was carried out related to a change in the legal status of employees.” And, according to him, “the reform was successfully carried out.”

What was the reform of the department? And Dmitry Aristov immediately explained:

– 51 thousand people were reassigned.

It is clear that all this is not easy. First you need to appoint 51 thousand people, then dismiss them, and then reassign them. Time and energy are running out. Hands up to the elbow in grease. Reform is reform.

Speaking about his work, Dmitry Aristov noted that “in December last year, a special law on the application of the law on enforcement proceedings in new territories was adopted promptly, and now it is being fully applied. A feature of this law is that court decisions on the collection of credit debts from the population, which were received in banks of Ukraine, as well as to the budget of Ukraine, are not accepted for execution. Therefore, these debts will not be collected from citizens.”

This, of course, is good news for the inhabitants of the new territories. Such news may be the envy of the inhabitants of the old territories.

Do people know about this? — said Vladimir Putin.

This was an important clarification. After all, people might not even know that they are not obliged to pay anyone. They don’t owe anyone anymore. And even could continue to pay. But why?

For in fact, this is another plus of reunification with Russia. You no longer owe Ukraine, but you still owe Russia. Unique geostrategic position of new regions. People need to appreciate it. And in order to be appreciated, it is necessary that they know about it. That is why Vladimir Putin asked.

Of course people know about it! – Dmitry Aristov assured. – The law was signed by you on December 29, and came into force on January 9. With the help of our employees, explanatory work is underway. And just recently, you signed a law banning collection activities in the territory of new constituent entities of the Russian Federation for debts that arose before September 30, 2022.

Constantly, answering his own questions, Vladimir Putin is reminded that he has already signed something on this matter … Just constantly. How annoying is that supposed to be.

— The same thing — these are debts that were mostly Ukrainian… — Dmitry Aristov added. — Now the return of overdue debts by collection methods is prohibited until 2026…

The old territories envy the new ones no longer as white as birch sap, but as black as dirt envy.

— We have such a large indicator (the efficiency of the service.— A.K.) as the total amount of penalties. So, over the past two years, it has increased by two-thirds and over the past year has exceeded the critical figure – 1 trillion rubles! — reported Dmitry Aristov. — We collected 1,100 billion rubles! Over the past two years, the gross recovery has increased by 400 billion rubles.

Thanks to the evil collectors, by the way, in the good old territories.

“This, of course, is a very significant indicator,” the head of the service said. “Such a breakthrough growth in the collection of alimony payments! For example, compared to 2021, we increased penalties by 1.5 times in 2022. In total, 48 billion were recovered (rubles— “b”), – said the head of the Bailiff Service.

Here we are all, members of complete families, of course, we are rooting for them.

– One and a half times?! the President asked incredulously.

— Yes, from 33 billion in 2021 to 48 billion in 2022! – Mr. Aristov exclaimed. – This is just, we believe … the results of the reform, the increase in social guarantees for employees! It is clear that staff turnover, of course, has decreased by almost three times … This is the stability of the composition, but the burden on people is increasing, responsibility is increasing! Many employees, of course, can not stand it, they leave, but new ones come!

Dmitry Aristov, thus, admitted that yes, it is not easy for a bailiff: to find alimony and collect money from them. After all, both of them are men, and everything is clear here … And many, of course, cannot withstand moral overstrain, they want to sleep at night and so that their conscience does not torment … They remain strong in spirit … And to replace them, who have fallen, new ones are coming, “that is, the formation of personnel is underway, which in the future of two or three years will make it possible to further increase efficiency.”

“I also wanted to report,” Dmitry Aristov hesitated, “that over the past five years … It is clear that debts must be collected …

He hesitated again.

— 93% of our debtors are citizens… Nevertheless, a debtor, a citizen, is a person who has found himself in a difficult life situation for objective reasons. Therefore, all legislation, its improvement is nevertheless aimed at protecting rights, so as not to deprive the debtor of income, – Dmitry Aristov finally spoke out.

“And livelihood,” Mr. Putin corrected him.

Yes, livelihood! – Dmitry Aristov was delighted.

Found out what it’s called. After all, income can and should be deprived. And you don’t need a livelihood. For along the way, we are also eliminating poverty, and throwing people beyond its line, forcing them to pay alimony, is unnatural.

– One of the most significant laws that have recently been adopted is on maintaining the living wage. We keep it. Already about 644,000 enforcement proceedings totaling 133 billion rubles have been maintained at the subsistence level for citizens, ”Dmitry Aristov explained, apparently worried.

And he told how it all happens.

“In order to make managerial decisions, in general, to analyze the situation, we draw up a conditional portrait of the debtor,” he explained. who, apart from the only housing, have nothing, but have a stable source of income: either wages or pensions.

The portrait of a low-income debtor looked tragic. I wanted to help the woman. Issue a loan for her, or something … They will give her … And if, God forbid, she does not give it back – what to take from her?

“This subsistence minimum, which we maintain,” continued Dmitry Aristov, “is exactly equal to the average wage in general. Now it is 15.7 thousand rubles, that is, this is a very low-income, low-paid category of the population, so they have neither a deferment nor an installment plan, they do not have a passport. Therefore, people in such a situation, unfortunately, live.

That is, without installments and without a passport. A gloomy picture of Russian life. Russian Leviathan in all its glory.

– Concern from all categories of enforcement proceedings is, of course, the growth of credit debt, including those presented for execution to the service. Now we have 12.7 million documents in progress for the amount of 2 trillion rubles. That’s a lot!

And Dmitry Aristov painted a portrait of another superfluous person.

“The portrait of the average debtor is either a man or a woman,” he described such a person according to his special signs.

Could there be a third one, that’s the question.

There are, of course, other options, but, thank God, not in Russia. So far, we have either.

But then the portrait turned out, you see, a little vague.

– Age – able-bodied, 30-45 years. The average amount of debt is approximately 173 thousand rubles. according to one enforcement proceeding,” Dmitry Aristov continued. “This category of debtors does not work at all, has no official source of income, and also has the only housing that cannot be levied under civil procedure law. There is practically nothing to take from these people! However, we are trying!

Here in it it is possible and not to doubt. True, in new territories you can not even try.

– The question arises: how did they get debts? the President did not understand.

Already and in general there was little clear.

Yes, it really does! Dmitry Aristov was also puzzled.

He even looked surprised.

We are analyzing the situation! – the head of the service gathered. – Many of them are debtors not only for loans, and repeated debtors for loans, but also debtors for payments for housing and communal services, in the fuel and energy sector … They borrow from neighbors – they don’t give back! .. They judge, present, in a complex such a “profession” is a professional debtor!

Finally, those words came out. In fact, Dmitry Aristov spoke about them, it seems, from the very beginning, but he tried not to utter these words themselves. But he said it like it is.

He meant that this is how their debts arose: they earn money with them, realizing that there is nothing to take from them.

And what a business it is. But that bailiffs are still trying. Because both of them are professionals.

– The problem of the state – it is necessary that people do not have such life situations – it seems that the president did not understand the meaning of Dmitry Aristov’s confession. – The level of wages should rise, in general, the well-being of people. Although the situation on the labor market is stable now, we must always think about it!

He decided to say his right words, which are suitable for almost any occasion. But that was not the case.

“Nevertheless, at the same time, you have your own tasks,” Vladimir Putin added after all.

Well, here’s what, what, and Dmitry Aristov was not worth convincing in this. This is not that kind of person.

“Everything needs rationality, law and rationality, because without this, unfortunately, irreparable harm can be done to people,” he measured weightily. “We understand this very well. There is a national rating of public services on the Unified Portal of Public Services in the development of digital transformation. So, for the month of December 2022, out of the first three prizes, two services, the first and the second, are occupied by ours. It seems to me, as a manager, it’s nice, but from the point of view of being in demand, of course, it would be better if they took the last two places!

– That’s for sure! Vladimir Putin laughed.

Indeed, according to the results of 2022, in the first place in the list of the most popular services is “checking the availability of enforcement proceedings” (further Dmitry Aristov got excited: in the second place – a request for monthly payments for children from 8 to 17 years old, and in the third – registration at the place residence).

This is how Russia works, don’t equip it.

So nothing funny.