News

MPs pass bill on prison terms for insults to veterans in second reading

The State Duma passed legislative amendments introducing criminal liability for humiliation of honor and dignity of veterans of the Great Patriotic War in the second reading on Tuesday.

18:21 16.03.2021

Legislative initiative on perpetual tenure for justices of peace adopted by State Duma

A bill developed by Russia’s Supreme Court, which envisages that the terms in office of justices of the peace should be indefinite passed its third and final reading in the lower house of Russian parliament on Tuesday.

17:14 16.03.2021

State Duma introduces fines for sale of gadgets without pre-installed domestic software

The State Duma has passed in the third and final reading amendments to the national Code of Administrative Offenses envisaging fines for the absence of pre-installed domestic software on smartphones and computers.

16:00 16.03.2021

Russia’s Cabinet to allocate $37 mln more to finance free medicines for COVID-19 patients

Another 2.7 billion rubles ($37 million at the current exchange rate) are to be allocated to Russia’s regions for provision of free medicines to patients with coronavirus infection. This directive has been signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

14:47 16.03.2021

Rules for submitting investigated persons to mental treatment to be codified in Russia

The Government Commission on Legislative Drafting has considered draft amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, which clearly define rules for sending persons under investigation to psychiatric hospitals.

11:35 16.03.2021

Ombudsmen from across Russia to discuss resocialization of convicts

Ombudsmen from 85 Russia’s regions will meet in Krasnoyarsk in May to discuss the problem of resocialization of convicts, RAPSI has been told in the press service of the Federal Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova.

11:24 15.03.2021

Russian Government to allocate over $27 mln for new tourist cashback programme stage

The Government of Russia resumes the tourist cashback programme envisaginh partially return of money for the purchase of journeys round Russia and will allocate 2 billion rubles (over $27 million) for these purposes.

10:59 15.03.2021

State Duma Committee backs prison terms for insults to veterans

The State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation has recommended that legislative amendments introducing criminal liability for humiliation of honor and dignity of veterans of the Great Patriotic War should be adopted in the second reading.

12:17 11.03.2021

Bill on blocking of cellphones in penitentiary facilities becomes law

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill on termination of provision of communication services in penitentiary facilities into law.

10:03 11.03.2021

MPs back bill to free officials from liability for anti-corruption breaches in some cases

The State Duma has passed a bill releasing officials from responsibility for breaching anti-corruption bans if such violations have been committed for reasons beyond their control in the first reading.

16:53 10.03.2021

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