Law & Legislation

Duma may consider amendments on pedophile trials before New Year

The State Duma may consider by the close of its autumn session amendments prohibiting jury trials in underaged sexual crime cases, says deputy Irina Yarovaya, the sponsor of the bill.

16:47 20.11.2012

NGO foreign agent law comes into effect in Russia

A new law obligating Russian NGOs financed from abroad and involved in political activity to be registered as foreign agents has entered into effect on November 20.

15:25 20.11.2012

Bizarre ways the world continues to fail its children

November 20 marks the Universal Children's Day. RAPSI has decided to celebrate the occasion with a look at a several unique trends in child protection legislation around the world. In some cases, we will explore the legal grey areas that have given rise to unexpected hotbeds of abuse. In others, we will look at instances where legislation and longstanding cultural tradition face off, leaving children’s rights precariously positioned.

11:46 20.11.2012

Bill on drug tests in schools submitted to State Duma

The government has submitted a bill to the State Duma on testing school students for drug use.

10:47 20.11.2012

Russia calls shenanigans on Magnitsky list and vows to react

The Magnitsky list is just for show and will have no practical effect on the visa regime between Russia and the United States, Mikhail Margelov, chairman of the Federation Council's International Affairs Committee, said.

11:45 19.11.2012

Deputies draft new bill to protect children's rights in Russia

The head of a State Duma Committee has proposed disallowing jury trials in sexual crimes cases concerning underaged individuals and prohibiting the public dissemination of information that details the physical and psychological sufferings of the child victims in such cases.

17:17 16.11.2012

US officials worry about road safety with new marijuana laws

Recreational use of marijuana will soon be legal in the US states of Colorado and Washington, which has sparked debate over how to police the new laws as officials worry that more impaired drivers will be on the road.

10:25 16.11.2012

Russia to react harshly to adoption of Magnitsky list law in US

Russia will react harshly if the United States approves the so-called "Magnitsky law," which will negatively affect relations between Washington and Moscow, Foreign Ministry official spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday.

16:22 15.11.2012

MP promises to facilitate air transportation amendments for disabled

State Duma Vice Speaker Sergei Zheleznyak has promised to facilitate the adoption of amendments to the Air Code on transporting disabled individuals, the United Russia party has reported on its website on Thursday.

15:34 15.11.2012

Bill against nazism to be submitted to Russia's lower house by year's end

The upper house will submit to Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, a bill on the inadmissibility of promoting Nazism and glorifying nationalistic crimes by the year's end.

15:03 15.11.2012

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