Court officers seized four beehives which belonged to a resident of the Yurgin region (North Kuzbass) because of outstanding alimony payments of 50,000 rubles ($1,650) for his three-year-old-daughter. He has not paid alimony since November 2009.

“According to the debtor, a serious illness prevented him from working and paying the alimony, however he was unable to produce any medical certificates to back the claim up. Court officials seized four hives located on the debtor’s property to compensate for the alimony debt,” a Federal Bailiff Service spokesman said.

According to preliminary estimates, the cost of each hive is approximately 2,000 rubles. The debtor has been given ten days to pay the debt; otherwise the bees will be sold at an auction.