Law & Legislation

Russia ratifies agreement to simplify visa regime with US

Russia has ratified an agreement to simplify its visa regime with the US. The State Duma adopted the document on July 6; the Federation Council approved it on July 18, 2012.

16:49 30.07.2012

Vladimir Putin signs law on criminal responsibility for defamation

President Vladimir Putin has signed a law returning the article on defamation to the Criminal Code. Previously, defamation was an administrative violation.

15:50 30.07.2012

Bill on prohibiting foreign branch banks in Russia submitted to parliament

The Russian government has submitted to the State Duma a draft law on prohibiting foreign banks from opening branch banks in Russia. The bill has been drafted as part of the strategy for developing Russias banking sector for the period of up to 2015 and consolidates the agreements reached by Russian negotiators during consultations on Russia's accession to the WTO.

14:52 30.07.2012

Russia ratifies adoption treaty with France

President Vladimir Putin has signed a law on the ratification of a treaty on cooperation with France in adoption, whereby a Russian-born child may only be adopted by a foreign family if adoptive parents cannot be found in Russia. The law was published and came into force on Monday.

13:41 30.07.2012

Ukrainian Parliament refuses to cancel Russian language bill

At its extraordinary meeting on Monday, the Ukrainian Parliament refused to cancel the law granting the Russian language official status in a number of the countrys regions.

13:05 30.07.2012

Law on website blacklist enters into force

President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill into law establishing a list of domains and websites featuring unlawful content. The bill was submitted to the State Duma in early June and adopted in the first reading on July 6.

10:16 30.07.2012

"Foreign agents" under Russia's NGO Law and its US doppelganger

President Putin signed off on a high-profile bill that will relegate politically active NGOs receiving funding from abroad to a registry of “foreign agents.” Once registered, these NGOs will face heightened scrutiny. They will be required to file regular disclosures with the government and to label all materials disseminated through major channels with their “foreign agent” status.

12:57 27.07.2012

U.S. House of Representatives committee supports Jackson-Vanik withdrawal

The House Committee on Ways and Means supported an act during its meeting on Thursday repealing the Jackson-Vanik amendment, which restricts US-Russian trade, thereby establishing normal trade relations with Russia.

12:20 27.07.2012

Officials concealing foreign bank accounts may be held liable

Members of United Russia are planning to submit a draft law to the State Duma which will obligate officials, MPs and governors to report on the opening of foreign bank accounts and the acquisition of real property and stock abroad.

12:41 26.07.2012

U.K. Foreign Office criticizes new Russian law on NGOs

The U.K. Foreign Office has criticized the new law on the activity of foreign NGOs in Russia, saying that the law will generate mistrust in the public and create unnecessary barriers in Russian civil society.

12:05 26.07.2012

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