Restrictions on entry into Russia for citizens of three more countries - Cuba, Serbia and Japan, introduced due to the situation with the coronavirus, have been cancelled. Citizens of these states, as well as persons entitled to reside in these countries, may now enter Russia from these countries through air checkpoints.
As explained on the official website of the RF Government, air traffic with these countries will be resumed as quid pro quo.
 

The Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism) set the dates for sales of tour packages with cashback. They will be available for purchase from October 15 to December 5, 2020.
Submission period - from October 15, 2020 to January 8, 2021.
For such tour packages the Government will refund 20% of the tour cost, but not more than 20 thousand roubles. The voucher shall be paid for with a MIR card.
 

The Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation indicates that mandatory laboratory examination (passing tests for COVID-19 or antibodies) of teachers and other employees of educational organisations before the start of the school year or during the educational process shall not be provided.
 

The Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation announces the posting on its website of the initial list of interchangeable drugs.

In accordance with the new Regulations emergency training will include training for the working population in emergency response at least once a year and when applying for a job within the first month, as well as participation in exercises and training.

The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation recalled the possibility of state registration of a legal entity whose location is the place of residence of an individual who is a permanent executive body or a person authorised to act on behalf of this legal entity.
In this case, the address of the legal entity, which is also the address (place of residence) of the individual, must be used to communicate with the legal entity.

Russians will be able to use the tourist cashback programme on new terms.
The term for the provision of the service shall be extended until January 10, 2021. Now, not only hotels and tour operators, but also travel aggregators will be able to participate in the programme. The dates of the start and end of sales of travel services with cashback will be announced later by the Federal Agency for Tourism.
Minimum tour or hotel duration reduced from four nights to two nights, the minimum cost of the tour is no longer limited (before it was - 25 thousand roubles). The maximum refund will be 20% of the tour cost, but not more than 20 thousand roubles (before it was - 15 thousand roubles.
The prerequisite for the programme (payment with a Mir card) remains the same. Cashback for the card will be credited automatically within five days from the date of payment for the trip.
 

On October 1, 2020 the deadline for the mandatory transition to Mir cards to receive social benefits actually expired.
However, the Central Bank informed credit institutions about the non-application of liability measures for crediting these payments to bank accounts, transactions on which are carried out using payment cards that are not national payment instruments, until December 31, 2020.
Thus, before the new year, benefits can be transferred to those cards that recipients of benefits have, and banks must accept such payments.
 

From October 1 to December 31, 2020, draftees aged 18 to 27 years old are called up for military service (who are not in reserve).
 

Airports were allowed to equip smoking areas in buildings and outdoors. It has been established that surveillance from other rooms for smokers in smoking areas, is excluded.
 

It contains provisions that allow individuals to initiate their bankruptcy out of court.
 

The Russian Agency for Health and Consumer Rights tightened the rules for returning citizens from foreign travel by air. Now tourists returned to the Russian Federation are subject to isolation at home (or in a hotel) until they receive the test results for the absence of COVID-19. And if the test turns out to be positive, then isolation for the whole family will drag on for 14 days.

The taxpayer has the right to take into account the costs of the purchase of a garden land plot where a residential building was built, as part of a property tax deduction after state registration of ownership of the house. This can be done starting from January 1, 2019.
 

The Federal Customs Service reminds that from October 1, 2020, Russia introduces mandatory labelling of perfumes and eau de toilette, as well as cameras (except for motion-picture cameras), photo flashes and flash lamps.
 

From March 1, 2021, the new Rules for the technical inspection of vehicles will come into force.
These amendments provide for the introduction of photographic recording of the vehicle inspection procedure; preparation of diagnostic cards mainly in the form of an electronic document, etc.
 

The International Labour Organisation has developed a guidelines for employers who switched their employees to remote working mode in 2020 in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendations address the roles and responsibilities of employers and employees when transferring to remote work, as well as methods for solving problems arising in this regard.

GRANTING THE RIGHT TO IT HAS BEEN APPROVED
On July 27, 2020, a federal law entered into force, which introduced provisions in the Civil Code of the Russian Federation that determine the legal regime of geographical indications. At the same time, the legal regime for appellations of origin was adjusted.

The Board of Directors of the Bank of Russia left key rate at 4.25% per annum. This value was set in July 2020. This is the second meeting in a year at which a decision is made to maintain the previous level of the key rate, all other meetings of directors led to a decrease in the rate.

Amendments to the Law on Consumer Loans came into force, providing for the borrower's right to a refund of amounts paid when concluding an insurance contract or joining an insurance program in connection with a loan. The basis for the refund of the corresponding amount is the refusal of the borrower from the insurance contract (participation in the insurance program) and early repayment of the loan.

The RF Ministry of Education and Science has approved the new rules for admission to universities, which will enter into force in 2021-2022 (academic year). Universities will be able to customise their own admission rules. However, the main innovation is that admission to universities will take place as "one wave", while the priority enrollment stage for applicants without entrance exams will remain, as well as according to the targeted or other special quotas.
 

The Ministry of Labour has prepared a draft decision of the Government of the Russian Federation on the transfer of days off in 2021. The department proposes the weekend of January 2 and 3 (Saturday and Sunday), coinciding with non-working holidays, to be postponed to November 5 and December 31, respectively. It is also proposed to transfer the rest day from Saturday February 20 to Monday February 22.