Corruption is rampant and local 'collectors' usually have to compensate anyone, official or otherwise for collaboration. It occurs that a debtor may be advised by the bank that there is no record of his having had an account there. Many Russian companies employ KGB agents as moon-lighters for these purposes, who also provide 'security' for the company premises and automobiles and the personal safety of executives. More than 20 Russian bank presidents have been shot to death on the front door-steps of their banks during the past two years. The toll has included newspapermen, television station managers and General Directors of major industries.
Contract killing is a growing industry in Russia.
Although debtors may raise the defense that they are unable to gain government permission to have access to an exchange of rubles for dollars in order to make payment, in practice everything in Russia is possible under the right circumstances. Foreigners have inadequate knowledge of these 'systems of arrangements' to effective employ them in their collection strategies. A debt owed to a foreigner is viewed by all as quite different from a debt owed to a Russian and in the latter case the potential for collection is significantly enhanced. Russian law does not permit the assignment to a Russian of a debt owed to a foreigner. But a foreigner may make unconditional transfer of a receivable to a Russian 'for adequate consideration' and such debt then becomes a debt owed to a Russian.