Russia's Supreme Court Cites Its Unfriendly Countries List in a Child Custody Ruling

A list that Russia created in 2022 to guide its foreign economic policy is now turning up in family court. Euronews reported on November 10 that Russia's Supreme Court cited the country's "unfriendly countries" designation in a child custody dispute, ruling that returning a child to France could run counter to her interests in part because France is on the list.

The case is one of several examples Euronews identified of the designation spreading into domestic law, from vehicle registration to debt repayment.

What the List Is

The list of states Moscow considers unfriendly was formalised in a government order in March 2022, weeks after Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine, Euronews reported. It covers the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Ukraine, Australia, New Zealand and the member states of the European Union.

It was originally used as a retaliatory tool in economic policy. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has linked the placement of some foreign companies' Russian assets under temporary administration to their home countries being on the list, according to Euronews.

The Custody Case

According to Euronews, in March 2025 a Russian citizen, Alexei Ermakov, took his daughter on a two week holiday to Turkey and Slovakia with the consent of her mother, Ukrainian citizen Anna Tishkova, and then brought the child to Russia in April. He later arranged Russian citizenship for the girl.

Despite international agreements on returning children to their country of habitual residence, the court declined to order her return to France, Euronews reported. Court Magazine has not independently reviewed the judgment, and the account here relies on Euronews' reporting.

Why the Hague Convention Matters

The 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is the main treaty for cross border custody disputes. It generally requires signatory states to return a child who has been wrongfully removed or retained across borders to the country of habitual residence, so that custody can be decided there.

The convention allows only narrow exceptions, such as a grave risk of harm to the child. Euronews noted that Russia has ratified the convention and that applying a foreign policy designation to custody matters departs from the norms it sets. Standard principles of private international law call for courts to decide custody, contract and property disputes on their legal merits, regardless of the nationality or political status of the parties.

Beyond Family Law

The custody ruling is not an isolated case. Euronews reported several other developments:

A bill supported in the State Duma would allow vehicles stolen or illegally exported from unfriendly countries to be registered in Russia.

The Supreme Court ordered the Interior Ministry to register a vehicle flagged in an international stolen vehicle database at Canada's request.

A decree treats individuals who cannot prove Russian or friendly state citizenship, or produce a residency permit, as persons from unfriendly countries.

Another decree allows Russian debtors to withhold payment from creditors in unfriendly countries.

Supporters of the vehicle bill say it fills legal gaps created by the breakdown of cooperation with Western states, while opponents say it weakens property protections for owners abroad, Euronews reported.

What It Means for Families and Businesses

For parents in cross border relationships, the ruling is a warning that treaty protections may not work as expected when one parent takes a child to Russia. Lawyers who handle international custody cases often advise families to agree in writing on travel, residence and the child's habitual home before trips abroad, and to seek urgent legal help if a child is not returned as agreed. For creditors and companies, the decrees add to the legal uncertainty of doing business with Russian counterparties.

Court Magazine will continue to follow how courts apply political designations to private legal disputes, and what that means for the rule of law across borders.