- Russia’s Bailiff Service is developing a legal framework to sell seized Bitcoin. And the agency will use the Tambiev case as a key precedent.
- FSSP chief Dmitry Aristov urges lawmakers to clarify Bitcoin’s legal status. He called BTC a “problematic asset” that needs regulation.
- Russia has reiterated that it will not create a crypto reserve soon. A Russian official cited their volatile nature and unpredictable price movement.
Russia is set to finalize measures to sell Bitcoin seized during criminal cases as Russian bailiffs actively develop a legal framework for dealing with such assets. This move is part of the nation’s ongoing crackdown on crypto scandals, including the Marat Tambiev case.
Russian Bailiff Service Pushes for Legal Framework to Convert Seized Bitcoin into State Revenue
Head of the Federal Bailiff Service (FSSP) Dmitry Aristov recently disclosed that the agency is working closely with relevant parties on new ways to convert Bitcoin into “state revenue.” Aristov made this statement at a recent meeting at the Russian Senate which is the upper chamber of the Russian parliament.
The FSSP head also explained that the body can use a landmark criminal lawsuit as a benchmark for further proceedings. Aristov added that this legal precedent granted the agency the power to confiscate Bitcoin and other digital assets.
His comment was in response to a Senator who questioned the FSSP head about the body’s mode of operation for seizing crypto assets.
Aristov said in a video.
We have a legal precedent, from a criminal case. During the investigation, we [confiscated] Bitcoin tokens
The Baillif chief also urged legislators to take action as the ongoing confiscation of cryptocurrencies needs a lasting solution. Aristov argued that the issue could remain unresolved unless lawmakers pass a bill to clarify the legal status of crypto assets. He also mentioned that “Bitcoin is a problematic asset” and that Moscow must “legislatively establish” the status of BTC in the country.
Tambiev Case Sets Precedent for Russia’s Crypto Seizure Initiative
The infamous Tambiev case is set to serve as a starting point for the recent FSSP initiative. Back in 2023, Russian security officials discovered a crypto wallet with 1,032.1 BTC linked to Tambiev, who once headed the Investigative Committee for the Tverskoy District. At the time, the BTC holding was worth 1.6 billion rubles (approximately $28 million).
Following investigations, Tambiev was found guilty of accepting bribes from an international fraud network and sentenced to 16 years in prison by a Russian court.
Notwithstanding, Russian officials are still working on the legal structure for selling the asset. Aristov clarified that deliberations are currently underway to decide the best possible method of selling the confiscated asset. However, he mentioned the lack of a legal structure for handling such cases.
The FSSP chief noted.
During the criminal case, Bitcoins were found. Now we are working with the relevant authorities to develop a methodology for implementing this type of financial instrument,
On the other hand, the US crypto space has witnessed improved regulatory clarity since President Trump’s inauguration. In March, Trump signed an executive “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve” order preventing the country from selling its BTC stash. Instead, the country has outlined plans to grow this BTC reserve through purchases and asset seizures.
However, Russia has yet to adopt this approach. In a recent statement, Deputy Finance Minister Vladimir Kolychev maintained that no intention of creating a crypto reserve, pointing to the volatile nature of digital assets.
