COBALT secures non-enforcement of a Russian court judgment in Latvia

COBALT has successfully represented a Latvian resident before the Supreme Court, securing non-enforcement of a Russian court judgment in Latvia.

Russian courts had ordered more than 600 000 EUR in damages to a Russian resident for non-payment of an alleged debt. Latvian courts were subsequently asked to recognize and enforce the Russian court judgment based on the Latvia-Russia bilateral judicial cooperation agreement.

When appearing before the Supreme Court, COBALT argued, among other non-enforcement grounds, the non-applicability of the Latvia-Russia bilateral judicial cooperation agreement due to Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. Although this argument was not addressed directly, the Supreme Court made a favourable decision and revoked the Riga Regional Court’s initial decision to grant enforcement of the Russian court judgment. The Riga Regional Court’s repeated decision to refuse recognition and enforcement of the Russian court judgment in Latvia, lifting the initially ordered provisional measures, has entered into force.

Riga Regional court’s repeated decision on refusal of recognition and enforcement of the Russian judgment in Latvia, lifting also the initially ordered provisional measures, has entered into force.

Representation of the client before the Supreme Court was ensured by COBALT Senior Associate Dr. Toms Krūmiņš.