Law & Legislation

U.S. ambassador to Russia hopes for Jackson-Vanik cancellation by year's end

More U.S. politicians seek to cancel the Jackson-Vanik amendment and hope that it will be rescinded by January 2013, says U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul. The amendment was adopted by Congress in 1974 and imposed restrictions on trade with the Soviet Union.

14:46 08.11.2012

Supreme Court supports amendments to toughen sanctions for drunk driving

The Supreme Court has approved the draft law submitted by the ruling party, United Russia, toughening punishment for drunk driving, though it has made a number of comments.

11:39 08.11.2012

Russian lawmakers to clarify the definition of fraud

State Duma lawmakers plan to distinguish between everyday fraud and fraud in the business sector. The draft law was submitted to the Duma on April 11 and adopted in the first reading on October 23.

15:11 07.11.2012

Amendments on fraud provisions may be approved before winter

The State Duma is determined to approve by late November amendments to the article on fraud in the Criminal Code.

14:17 02.11.2012

Law on punishments for match-fixing may be considered this year

The State Duma has welcomed a draft law that the Russian president will soon submit on increasing the criminal and administrative sanctions for organizing fixed matches and bribing participating fighters.

13:05 02.11.2012

Citizenship amnesty possible, says Federal Migration Service head

"Amnesty under citizenship" will soon commence in Russia and allow a specific category of citizens to receive passports according to a simplified procedure, says Federal Migration Service head Konstantin Romodanovsky.

15:43 01.11.2012

Sweden to consider child adoption agreement with Russia

Sweden is ready to consider signing a bilateral adoption agreement with Russia, the press service of Presidential Children's Rights Commissioner Pavel Astakhov said after his two-day visit to Sweden.

15:18 01.11.2012

Russian register of blacklist websites goes live

The unified register of Internet websites containing information which is prohibited to distribute in Russia goes live on Thursday. The law on protecting children from information damaging to their health and development came into effect on September 1.

11:36 01.11.2012

Russia's upper house approves law on fines for foreign agents

The Federation Council has approved on Wednesday a law imposing administrative fines for violating the provisions on the foreign agent status for non-profit organizations. The corresponding amendments have been introduced to the Code of Administrative Offenses.

16:10 31.10.2012

Law on high treason approved by Russia's upper house

The Federation Council has approved a law increasing the punishment for disclosing state secrets and imposing criminal liability for the illegal acquisition of classified information.

12:48 31.10.2012

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