Bailiff Day in Russia Date in the current year: November 1, 2024

In Russia, a bailiff is an official, whose responsibility is to secure the established order of the court as well as to enforce court orders. Bailiffs are state civil servants, they work for the Federal Bailiff Service. The Service is part of the executive branch of government, it is similar to the United States Marshals Service.

Bailiff Day in Russia is celebrated in November, because on November 6, 1997 two laws concerning bailiffs were adopted and came into force. They are the Law “On Enforcement Proceedings” and the Law “On Bailiffs”. These laws essentially reestablished the bailiff service in Russia.

The first mention of bailiffs on the territory of present-day Russia (namely Pskov and Novgorod) dates back to the 15th century. In the 18th century, the functions of bailiffs were passed on to the police. In 1846, Emperor Alexander II reestablished the bailiff service. However, it was once again discontinued after the 1917 October Revolution and ceased to exist for 80 years.