Law & Legislation

Putin signs school drug testing law

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill introducing drug testing for school students.

17:39 07.06.2013

Legislators propose increasing prison term for corruption related crimes

Irina Yarovaya, head of the State Duma anticorruption committee, has put forward a bill increasing the punishment for corruption and misappropriation of government funds.

13:12 07.06.2013

St. Petersburg legislators refuse to cancel fines for gay propaganda

The St. Petersburg city parliament has rejected an initiative to cancel fines for the propaganda of homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality among minors, by 50 votes to 9.

13:54 05.06.2013

Putin may sign law banning adoption by same-sex couples

President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that he would sign a law banning adoptions by same-sex couples if parliament backed the initiative.

17:18 04.06.2013

Government approves bill to increase liability for certain managers

A government commission has approved a bill increasing the liability of directors of federal and municipal non-profit organizations, state-run enterprises and joint stock companies.

11:11 04.06.2013

Motorcyclists will be fined for using bike racks in Moscow

Motorcycle- and scooter-owners in Moscow are subject to the same rules as car owners and will be fined for using bicycle racks, a Moscow transport official told RIA Novosti Monday.

12:48 03.06.2013

Russian Justice Ministry urges creation of prison supervisory boards

Russia's Justice Ministry has submitted new legislation to the State Duma to regulate the creation of prison supervisory boards, Kommersant daily reports on Monday.

11:03 03.06.2013

A business amnesty: Mission impossible

The idea of an amnesty for thousands of Russian businesspeople who have been sentenced or are in prison under Criminal Code articles on economic crimes sounds utopian in today’s Russia. It was proposed by business ombudsman Boris Titov – but Vladimir Putin, as well as the majority of Russians – have rejected it outright.

16:45 31.05.2013

Cannabis smokers to be fined in Switzerland

Criminal punishment for the users of small amounts of cannabis will be replaced with a fine of 100 Swiss francs ($104) on Oct. 1, the Swiss government said in a statement on Friday. The decision does not apply to minors.

16:26 31.05.2013

Amendment on luxury cars tax submitted to parliament

A group of lawmakers has submitted an amendment to the State Duma to lower the cost of cars liable to increased transport tax from 5 to 3 million rubles ($94,970) and also drafted an amendment prohibiting officials from buying luxury cars.

13:14 31.05.2013

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