Law & Legislation

Draft law proposes limiting rights of journalists to report on trials

The State Duma has developed a draft law aimed at limiting the rights of journalists to report on trials by granting judges the right to close any trial to the press at their own discretion, Izvestia daily reported.

12:30 07.12.2012

Marijuana possession now legal in Washington

On Thursday Washington State became the first state in America where it is legal to possess marijuana for adult recreational use, and hundreds of people celebrated shortly after midnight by lighting up and smoking joints together under Seattle’s iconic Space Needle.

19:50 06.12.2012

Fines for promoting homosexualism among children to reach $16k

Russia's lower house might start considering the bill stipulating fines of up to 500,000 rubles ($16,220) for promoting homosexualism among under-aged on December 19.

17:32 06.12.2012

Russian foreign agent law lacks provision for exclusion of NGOs

The Justice Ministry has not prescribed a procedure for the exclusion of nongovernmental organizations from the register of foreign agents as such has not been stipulated by the law.

13:30 06.12.2012

Russian authorities to publish blacklists of tax dodgers

The Russian authorities will submit proposals to the government before April 2013 to post blacklists of Russian tax dodgers who are two months or more overdue with their tax payments.

12:00 06.12.2012

MPs propose being fined and stripped of their mandate for misconduct

According to the deputies' code of ethics which may be adopted during the State Duma's spring session, lawmakers could be stripped of their mandate for misconduct.

10:32 06.12.2012

Bill on organ transplants may be submitted to State Duma in 2013

The Healthcare Ministry's bill on organ transplants, which envisages the establishment of a database of Russians where they will be able to express their will to donate their organs after death, might be submitted to the State Duma for consideration next year.

15:14 05.12.2012

Putin obligates members of government to declare expenses

President Vladimir Putin has approved amendments to the law, "On the Russian Government," pursuant to which members of government should report their expenses, as well as the expenses of their family members.

19:31 04.12.2012

New Criminal Code article on fraud to increase transparency, Medvedev

The introduction of a Criminal Code article on six types of fraud will help increase transparency and prevent criminal cases from being manipulated during preliminary investigations, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday.

17:47 04.12.2012

Russia ratifies contract with Czech Republic on social maintenance

President Vladimir Putin has signed a law on the ratification of a contract with the Czech Republic on social maintenance. The contract stipulates the regulation of social maintenance and obligatory insurance relations for Russian and Czech citizens and their family members, who permanently reside in Russia and Czech Republic.

17:22 04.12.2012

Top news

Russian courts allowed not to implement rulings of Europe's human rights court

Russia's Supreme Court proposed not to implement rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the provisions of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR).

12:53 09.12.2025

Redomiciliation stalls: How sanctions are shaping new practices for Russian companies

The mechanism for redomiciliating foreign companies to Russian jurisdiction, in effect since 2018, has recently encountered serious obstacles. Taking into account the background of sanctions-related restrictions introduced in 2022 through 2025, it has become extremely difficult to achieve the goal. The situation gave rise to the phenomenon of dual domicile and led to a rise in the number of new litigations, both in Russia and abroad.

12:32 09.12.2025

Soldiers jailed for killing US journalist Russell Bentley

A military court in Donetsk sentenced three soldiers to up to 12 years in prison for torturing and killing Russell Bentley, a 63-year-old U.S. national who collaborated with Sputnik news agency.

14:05 08.12.2025