Law & Legislation

Law on Russian language tests for migrants submitted to Parliament

Vladimir Pligin, Chairman of the State Duma Committee for Constitutional Legislation and State Development, and committee member Dmitry Vyatkin have submitted a draft law to the State Duma on introducing obligatory tests in Russian history, language and basic legislation for all labor immigrants from January 1, 2015.

11:32 30.10.2012

State Duma deputies propose fines for smoking in inappropriate places

State Duma deputies have proposed establishing high fines for smoking in inappropriate places after the anti-tobacco law comes into effect. The State Duma's Health Protection Committee is preparing the corresponding amendments to the Code of Administrative Violations.

16:45 29.10.2012

Russia's upper house committee supports law on state treason

The Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation has approved the law on state treason on Monday and recommended that the council approve it during its plenary meeting on October 31.

16:20 29.10.2012

Fines imposed for NGOs classified as “foreign agents”

The State Duma has approved in its third and final reading a law that will impose fines for violating the provisions on the status of foreign agents for non-profit entities.

19:00 26.10.2012

Duma lawmakers to discuss draft law under fraud article on Nov. 7

Experts and State Duma deputies will discuss a Supreme Court draft law that aims to provide additional details to the article on fraud in the Criminal Code during the parliamentary hearings on November 7.

17:47 26.10.2012

Insider information laws need simplifying - regulator

The provisions of the law on inside information have been regulated and need to be simplified, Dmitry Pankin, head of the Federal Service for Financial Markets, told journalists at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) conference.

13:10 25.10.2012

State Duma approves tougher punishment for encouraging children to drink

The State Duma has approved a bill in its first reading which toughens the criminal and administrative liability for inducing children and teenagers to drink alcoholic beverages.

11:31 24.10.2012

State Duma approves bill on increasing protection of state secrets

The State Duma has adopted a law in its second and third readings which increases the protection of state secrets, toughens the punishment for their disclosure and imposes criminal liability for the illegal obtainment of secret information.

10:28 24.10.2012

Ombudsman criticizes amendments to bill on extending state treason notion

Russian Human Rights Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin has criticized the amendments drawn up for the second reading of a bill designed to increase the protection of state secrets from criminal infringements.

10:27 23.10.2012

Constitutional Court to consider deputies' inquiries on two controversial laws

The Constitutional Court will consider state deputies' inquiries to check the validity of the laws on direct gubernatorial elections and increasing the punishment for violations committed during mass rallies on November 13 and November 27.

16:29 22.10.2012

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