The situation that recently came to the attention of the Supreme Court seems absurd only at first glance. A Russian citizen named Lester Filits bought a package tour to Turkey back in 2022. But at the border he was turned away: it turned out that an enforcement proceeding had been initiated against him due to an old debt. The bailiff sent the notice through "Gosuslugi," but due to a technical error it didn't arrive. The man knew neither about the debt nor about the ban. The package tour went up in smoke. He fought in court for four years and eventually got justice.
Lester Filits's story ended relatively well. The Ostankino Court found the travel restriction illegal (the notice was not delivered). The Basmanny Court recovered the cost of the package tour from the Federal Bailiff Service — 139 thousand rubles. But the appeal and cassation overturned these decisions, saying, "ignorance doesn't excuse you from responsibility, you should keep track yourself." It reached the Supreme Court, which settled the matter.
The highest court stated: if the notice wasn't delivered, there are no grounds for a travel ban. And if you lost money because of such a "surprise," the bailiffs are obliged to reimburse it.
An important nuance. The Supreme Court drew attention to the 15-day rule. If you didn't log into "Gosuslugi" within 15 days from the moment the notice of the initiation of enforcement proceedings was sent, it's considered undelivered. This means the bailiff had no right to move on to the next step — the travel ban — until they notified you in another way.
How the "15-Day Rule" Actually Works
Many people confuse the debt notice and the travel ban. These are different things. To ban travel, the bailiff must first initiate enforcement proceedings and give you time to voluntarily pay off the debt. If you ignore this period, then the restriction is applied.
Previously, it was believed that the notice was delivered as soon as it appeared in the system. Now the court has clarified: if the notice wasn't read within 15 days (that is, you didn't log into the portal), it's not considered delivered. Which means the travel ban is also illegal.
This isn't like the situation with fines, where the principle "considered delivered after the storage period expires" often applies. Here the law comes to the citizen's defense: if you didn't log into the portal, the state is obliged to look for other ways to notify you before applying such serious restrictions.
What to Do If You've Already Found Yourself in This Situation
If you found out about the ban at the airport, don't rush to beat yourself up. There's a clear algorithm of actions that will help you get your money back.
1. Gather evidence. You need to prove that the notice of the initiation of enforcement proceedings didn't arrive to you. Print out the page of your "Gosuslugi" personal account (if the notice isn't displayed). Save all tickets and documents confirming the cost of the package tour.
2. Go to court. File a claim for compensation of losses. Now you have a chance not only to cancel the ban but also to get back the money you spent. The main thing is to properly document the evidence.
How to avoid getting into this situation. Of course, it's better not to let it get to court at all. Before buying a tour or tickets abroad, check the Federal Bailiff Service website and your personal account on "Gosuslugi." Make sure you have no travel restrictions. It takes a couple of minutes but saves you nerves and money.
The Bottom Line
The Supreme Court has created an important precedent: if the bailiffs didn't notify you about the debt through "Gosuslugi" (and you didn't log in there for 15 days), they have no right to ban your travel. If a package tour went up in smoke because of this, you can demand compensation. In our opinion, this is great news. But don't relax: it's better to check your debts one more time than to sue the bailiffs later. After all, a vacation is for relaxing, not for court battles.
And if you're planning a trip and want to be sure of your safety, read our materials: