Russians reportedly owe illegal loan sharks nearly $2 billion in a burgeoning and unregulated industry.
Russia has three times as many illegal microfinance companies — 6,600 — as those registered by the Central Bank, according to the Kommersant business daily. With declining incomes and lack of access to small loans, many Russians have turned to predatory lenders that charge exorbitant interest rates and resort to physical intimidation to collect their debts.
Citing the “Mir” Union of Microfinance Organizations, Kommersant estimated Monday that Russians owe loan sharks close to 100 billion rubles ($1.72 billion).
“They don’t fall under the control of any of the regulators […] and work without regard for laws,” Kommersant cited Mir’s security committee head, Anton Gruntov, as saying.
According to the newspaper, the Central Bank flagged a mere 1,370 loan sharks to the authorities in 2017.
Law enforcement agencies lack “a systemic approach to preventing organizations that issue illegal loans” and “usually only step in after instances of physical intimidation against debtors or their property,” Gruntov told Kommersant.
The legal microfinancing market, comprising 2,200 lenders, is valued at 121 billion rubles ($2.1 billion) as of late 2017.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
