Certain amendments have been made into the Labour Code of the Russian Federation concerning regulation of electronic personnel workflow, which provides for the possibility and mechanisms for maintaining and using work-related documents in electronic form.

The Roskomnadzor website has published a list of foreign Internet companies that must open representative offices in Russia. It includes 13 foreign companies with 22 information resources. 

The number of countries providing adequate protection of rights of personal data owners increased up to 29. Roskomnadzor has updated the list of countries that are not parties to the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data and that provide adequate protection of the rights of personal data owners. 

 Flight frequency is increased as follows: 

 From December 1, 2021, administrative liability has been established for the following: 

It is reported that Protocol No. 15 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms shortens the time limit for filing an application with the European Court of Human Rights after exhaustion of domestic remedies - from 6 to 4 months. This new rule shall enter into force on February 1, 2022.

The Bank of Russia explains that bank account agreements with minors aged from 14 to 18 shall be concluded only with the written consent of their legal representatives. Such representatives shall also be entitled to access information on the bank accounts opened by their wards, as well as deposits and operations performed, even if constituting bank secrets.

According to Federal Law No. 305-FZ (adopted in July 2021), the declaration of real estate items belonging to organisations and taxable with property tax at cadastral value shall be cancelled from 2023. That means that taxpayers that are Russian organisations shall, starting from reports for 2022, not include information on facilities, the tax base for which is determined as their cadastral value, into the property tax declaration.

The Federal Tax Service has updated the accreditation procedure, making changes in information contained in the state register of accredited branches, or representative offices of foreign legal entities, termination of the accreditation of a branch, or representative office of a foreign legal entity operating in the Russian Federation. Due to this fact, new forms and formats of documents used in such procedures, as well as the requirements for their formalisation, are approved.

According to orders of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, first-aid kits should be equipped, inter alia, with manuals for first aid. In late August 2021, such manuals were developed (and adopted) for four first-aid kits, including first-aid kits for providing first aid to employees. Each manual contains the following:

The Federal Tax Service has updated the accreditation procedure, amending the information included in the state register of accredited branches, representative offices of foreign legal entities, termination of the accreditation of a branch, representative office of a foreign legal entity operating in the Russian Federation.

From September 1, 2021, childcare sick leave under the age of 8, regardless of the parent's insurance record, is paid at the rate of 100% of the average earnings.

The Federal Agency for Tourism decided to extend the period until September 14, 2021 during which a tourism service can be paid for in order to receive cashback when travelling in Russia. This deadline was to expire on August 31.

The update of the rules for money transfers is due, among other things, to the implementation of the international standard for financial messages ISO 20022 in the national payment system.

This innovation will affect those who have a confirmed account on the Unified Portal of Public Services.

The Law on Banking Activities has been supplemented with a new article defining a procedure for informing individuals of the terms of bank deposit agreements. Banks will be obliged to indicate the main terms of the deposit in the table placed on the first page of the agreement and done in a clear, well-readable font using the maximum font size used in the agreement.

From September 1, 2021, the rules for labelling packaged water with identification means shall be established.

It will be necessary to apply identification means and submit data into the state information system for monitoring the turnover of goods, depending on the category of goods, from December 1, 2021 or from March 1, 2022.

 Credit, insurance organisations and non-governmental pension funds will have to provide the Bank of Russia with information on their controlling persons from July 1, 2021. 

This information, filled in according to special templates, will be disclosed on the website of the Bank of Russia.

 For citizens who have lost their jobs, retraining and additional vocational education programs are available with the possibility of further employment. The following people can also become members of these programs:

 A notary that attested authenticity of the signature on an application for state registration of an organisation (at its creation) or an individual businessman, shall send such application with other necessary documents attached to a registering authority. 

 A new IFRS 17 "Insurance Contracts" is put into operation in Russia. From the date of the official publication of the new standard, the previous IFRS shall be terminated in our country. 

 Ordinary tourist visas will be issued for a period of up to six months. Condition to comply: a foreign citizen must have a confirmation of acceptance by the tour operator or reservation in a hotel or another accommodation facility from the unified list of qualified hotels, ski slopes, beaches. 

 From September 1, 2021 childcare sick leaves (this refers to children up to seven years old inclusive) in the amount of 100% of the average earnings, regardless of length of service. This measure will allow receiving increased payments to 1.5 million parents annually. 

 It is prohibited to distribute auditory advertising using sound engineering equipment mounted and located on external walls, roofs or other structural elements of buildings, structures and facilities.

 Regular international flights with Iceland, Malta, Mexico, Portugal and Saudi Arabia will resume on May 25, 2021. 

 According to the document, it will be possible to return 50% of the cost of the voucher for recreational and health improvement of children if the trip is made before September 15, 2021 before September 15, 2021. In this case, the tourist service must be paid for with a Mir card, and the rest period in the children's camp must be at least one shift. 

 Amendments have been made to the Rules for registration and de-registration of citizens of the Russian Federation at the place of stay and at the place of residence within the Russian Federation. 

 Starting from the next year, medical institutions will be obliged to provide patients with an extract from the electronic certificate of incapacity, if necessary. 

 On May 12, 2021, the Agreement between Russia and Ukraine on cooperation in the field of tourism was terminated.

 The draft law is supposed to supplement the Labour Code of the Russian Federation with a new article concerning the document administration in electronic form in the sphere of labour relations, thereby providing for the possibility and mechanisms of keeping records (in as much as it concerns work-related documents) in electronic form without paper duplicates in order to create more opportunities for the remote employment.

 The agency recalled that, according to a general rule of the Civil Code, the borrower shall return the loan amount received to the lender within the terms and in compliance with the procedure prescribed in the loan agreement. However, the amount of a loan provided for interest and not related to entrepreneurial activity may be paid as pre-scheduled, in full or in parts. 

 The department denied information that appeared in the media and explained that there are no restrictions for citizens on the collection of non-wood and food forest resources: wild fruits, berries, nuts, or mushrooms.

 A new offence has appeared in the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation - a new offence is included among other types of abuse of freedom of the media. This is the distribution in the media (including on the Internet) of the content of the foreign media agent (it does not matter, foreign or Russian) without a note that this content was created by a foreign agent. For such informational misconduct, a fine may be imposed.

 The Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation has issued new (11th) Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of COVID. These Guidelines, with photo examples of X-ray images, set out the principles of diagnosis, hospitalization, treatment and discharge of patients, lists of recommended drugs, algorithms for their use and many other useful materials.

 Entry into Russia is possible for foreigners: 

 In connection with the transition to a new system of treasury services for budget receipts from May 1 of this year, all taxpayers, when filling out payment orders for tax payments, in the requisite "Account number of the beneficiary's bank" must indicate the new account number of the beneficiary's bank. Be careful: from this date, payments with incorrect details will be among the unidentified payments.

 Work continues on the pilot project “Travelling without COVID-19”. Through this project, citizens of the Union countries can enter Russia from Armenia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan through air checkpoints, confirming the presence of a negative test result for COVID-19 by PCR through the mobile application "Travelling without COVID-19".

 From May 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022, an experiment related to labelling dietary supplements will be held. It will apply to natural and synthesised vitamins and pro-vitamins, various products of vegetable or animal origin. 

 Grounds for the RF Government to make decisions on use of an invention, utility model or industrial design without consent of a patent holder have been clarified (notifying the patent holder of such use as soon as possible and reimbursing proportionately). 

 When returning from abroad after May 1, 2021, Russians must also be re-tested for COVID-19 by PCR with an interval between the first and repeated tests of at least a day. For those returning from Turkey and Tanzania, the re-examination requirement takes effect until May 1, 2021.

 The Board of Directors of the Bank of Russia took a decision to increase the key rate by 50 basic points to 5.00% per annum. 

 Amendments concern definition, at a legislative level, of actions related to manipulation in sports competitions, consolidation of the concept of "unusual bets on sports competitions", establishment of administrative responsibility for legal entities for legalisation of money obtained by criminal means (laundering) etc.

 The RF Ministry of Public Health approved an information and communication strategy aimed at counteracting consumption of tobacco and nicotine-containing products for the period up to 2030. 

 Labour legislation does not explicitly provide for the possibility for the employer to establish requirements for the business dress code of an employee. At the same time, the legislation does not contain a prohibition on the establishment of such requirements. A prerequisite is the indication of such requirements in the employment contract or local regulatory act (job description, internal labour regulations, etc.). The employee should read, understand, and acknowledge by signing.

 The amount of the fine provided for the clause "Violation of the Rules for Traffic through Railway Tracks" has been increased from one thousand roubles up to five thousand roubles.

 Loans are provided for construction of private houses (with purchasing a land plot, if necessary) for families whose second or subsequent child was born after January 1, 2018, and also for families with disabled child (children). 

 From April 1, 2021, smartphones, tablet computers, stationary computers, laptops, TVs with the Smart TV function are sold with pre-installed Russian programs. 

 From September 1, 2021, new requirements will apply to the first aid kits for providing first aid to employees. In total, the first-aid kit shall contain 12 medical devices, including masks, gloves, bandages. However, the last but not the least thing will be the first aid instructions. 

 The suspension of flights with the UK has been extended through June 1, 2021.

 Starting from July 1, 2021, a national product traceability system will be introduced. In this regard, the form of the invoice has been adjusted.

 The Government of the Russian Federation has established the rules for the formation and maintenance of a unified register of types of federal, regional state control (supervision) and municipal control.

 The Ministry of Justice has postponed until July 15, 2021 the deadline for filing reporting forms providing information on amount of funds and another property obtained from foreign sources, as well as on information of spending such funds and use of another property, for 2020 (usually such reports are submitted no later than on April 15 of the year following the reporting year).

 Amendments, in particular, provide that justices of the peace shall be appointed (elected) to office for the first time for three years, and then upon reappointment (re-election) without limitation of the term of office. At the same time, the age limit for serving as a justice of the peace (magistrate) will be kept and fixed as 70 years old.

 Until January 1, 2026, citizens using garages that are capital construction facilities and had been built before December 30, 2004 (or heirs of such citizens) have the right to be granted free ownership of a land plot being in state or municipal ownership, on which such garage is located.

 According to amendments to the Tax Code, individuals will be able to obtain tax deductions in amounts paid at their own expense within the tax period for health and fitness services provided to an individual, or to his or her children under the age of 18. 

 The requirement provided that the corresponding consent of legal representatives shall be notarised is excluded from the Rules for rendering hotel services in the Russian Federation

 Three recent letters from the authorities at once are devoted to the compulsory vaccination for workers. As a general rule, immunization in Russia is voluntary. Citizens have the right to refuse preventive vaccinations.

 The Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation approved a new List of types of work, professions, positions in which citizens undergoing alternative civilian service can be employed, consisting of 124 items, as well as the List of organisations where such service is provided.

 The President of the Russian Federation signed amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences providing for the possibility of imposing an administrative punishment on an offender in exceptional cases in an amount less than the minimum established by the regional law on administrative offences. This applies to both citizens and officials. 

 From April 1, 2021, it was decided to resume regular international flights with Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka (one flight from Moscow every week), as well as with Venezuela (Moscow - Caracas twice a week). 

 In connection with the introduction of the registry model for the provision of public services, the procedure for obtaining licences for the technical protection of confidential information has been adjusted. 

 Before April 30, 2021, declarations on income obtained in 2020 shall be filed with tax authorities. 

 The RF government decided to extend the Temporary Rules for issuing certificates of incapacity for work (sick leave), assignment and payment of benefits for temporary incapacity for work in case of quarantine for insured persons aged 65 or over, until May 1, 2021. 

 The Law of the Republic of Crimea, dated December 23, 2020, postponed application of the resort tax in Crimea until May 1, 2022.

 In connection with the amendments to the Civil Code of the Russian Federation regarding the replacement of the words “the minimum wage” by fixed rouble amounts, the lower limit of the cost of things transferred to citizens' storage has changed. Now it's 10,000 roubles.

 At the end of February, amendments to Article 13.11 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation were introduced; these amendments provide for tougher liability for violations in the field of personal data. The sanctions for such violations no longer provide for the possibility of applying a warning, and amounts of fines has doubled. Repeated committing of some violations is highlighted in separate offences.

 The RF Ministry of Justice informs that the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum "Nine and three quarters: Vaccination with law" will take place from May 18 to 22.

 On March 19, 2021, the Bank of Russia decided to raise the key rate by 25 basic points up to 4.5% per annum. 

 Another form of defence of doctoral thesis has been introduced: it may be formalised as a scientific report prepared on the basis of previously published works. Applicants specialising in natural, technical, biomedical and agricultural sciences must have at least 30 published works within the previous 10 years in internationally recognised publications. For soft sciences, economic and social sciences the number of such publications is fixed as at least 50.

 Any laboratory, including private non-state laboratories, has the right to organise testing for coronavirus. To do this, one can submit a notification on the website of the Federal Centre for Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing. The only requirement is the mandatory transfer of information to the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing in case of detection of a new coronavirus.

 The Government of the Russian Federation informed about the adopted decision on the next extension of the deadlines for the suspension of flights with Great Britain - until 23:59 hours on April 16, 2021.

 The Government of the Russian Federation decided to extend the tourist cashback programme for 2021. The conditions of the program will remain the same: the duration of the tour or hotel stay is at least two nights; the refund amount - 20% of the tour cost, but not more than 20 thousand roubles; trips must be paid for with a Mir card.

 From September 1, 2021, new requirements will apply to the first aid kits used to provide first aid to employees. Twelve items (medical devices) are designated for the complete set. First aid instructions are required. Previously produced (completed) first-aid kits may be used until their expiration date, but no later than until August 31, 2025.

 Rospotrebnadzor submitted draft new Rules for providing paid medical services. In general, the draft repeats the current Rules, however, a number of points are planned to be settled differently: 

 In the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, the term “minimum monthly wage” was replaced by fixed amounts. This parameter was used in the context of determining the value of the item being transferred for storage.

 Ministry of Education and Federal Education and Science Supervision Service presented a draft timetable for the Unified National Exam for 2021. 

 Law on access to information on the state of the environment is signed. 

In the 2021/2022 academic year, universities will be able to conduct intermediate certification for undergraduate, specialist and graduate programs using distance learning technologies that provide personal identification through the Unified Biometric System and control of test conditions (proctoring service).

 Evasion of registration and vaccination of dogs and cats living in Moscow against rabies in veterinary institutions is punishable by a fine.

 Provisions of Federal Law No. 325-FZ on the uniform term for organisations to pay transport and land taxes came into force. Since now taxpayers shall pay the mentioned taxes no later than on March 1 of the year following the expired tax period. 

 Starting from March 1, 2021, new forms for residence permits are applicable. 

 The Governmental Decision has extended for six months validity period of diagnostic cards that which expire from February 1 to September 30, 2021. 

 The RF Ministry for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters explained that smoking cigarettes on balconies of apartment buildings is not prohibited by the new Fire Fighting Regulations. However, if a cigarette butt, a match, or a burning spark fly out from the "smoking" balcony and fall on someone else's balcony or even into an open window of another apartment and result in a fire, than the smoker will face at least an administrative penalty. And if such fire causes serious consequences, then there will also be criminal liability. 

 For ninth-graders, certificates of the basic general education will be issued based on the results of the state final certification in the Russian language and mathematics. Exams for other subjects are not planned. 

 Amendments have been made to the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, according to which:

 The RF Ministry of Public Health announces the registration of the third Russian vaccine for prevention of the coronavirus. It is named "KoviVac" and created using classical technology. The new vaccine contains the inactivated virus.

 Amendments to the Law on International Companies and Funds have been introduced. 

 Amendments have been made to the Law on Education, which permanently provide for the special right of orphans and children without parental care, as well as to certain categories of veterans, to enroll in undergraduate and specialty programs within the established quota at the expense of the corresponding budget of the budgetary system of the Russian Federation. Admission is possible subject to the successful entrance tests.

 The Russian Agency for Health and Consumer Rights announces registration of test system for detecting mutation of coronavirus N501Y (the so-called British strain).

 The RF Ministry of Public Health has released an information brochure with the frequently asked questions about the new coronavirus infection: what kind of disease it is, how to recognise it, how it is treated, how to pass a PCR test, whether patients need to comply with the self-isolation regime, etc. 

 The Board of Directors of the Bank of Russia left key rate at 4.25% per annum. This rate was set in July 2020.

 The RF government has established rules for issuing concessional loans for the construction of hotels.

 The RF Ministry of Healthcare has adjusted the population groups subject to the priority vaccination against COVID: 

The conditions for the entry of Russians into European countries have been stipulated as of January 12, 2021. 

 If a consumer has a claim against a foreign organisation whose website contains information targeted at Russian consumers - in particular, in Russian language, with prices in Russian roubles and an indication of the Russian clientele - then the claim should be accepted in a Russian court, even if the defendant has no representation in the Russian Federation.

 The Tax Code of the Russian Federation established that obligation to pay taxes and (or) fees terminates with the death of an individual that is taxpayer or with announcement of him as deceased in the procedure established by the civil procedural legislation of the Russian Federation.

 Part 1 of Article 3 of the Federal Law on Mandatory Requirements in the Russian Federation shall enter into force on February 1, 2021.

 The suspension of flights with the UK extended until February 16, 2021 inclusive. 

 From February 1, the procedure for maintaining medical records in the form of electronic documents comes into force. The procedure introduces a new rule: a medical organisation independently decides whether to switch from paper document flow to electronic. If employees of the medical organisation take a decision to keep medical records in electronic form, then all of the documents, by default, are kept precisely and only in electronic form, and paper is not used at all.

 The RF Government informed of a decision taken to resume international flights with Greece (two flights per week) and Singapore (three flights per week) on a reciprocal basis from February 8, 2021

 A new article appeared in the Law on Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection, which establishes features of posting information in social networks. The mentioned article entrusts owners of social networks with a number of responsibilities to control the content of the social network. 

 From December 29, 2020, a QR code will appear on most paper notarial documents. 

 The Ministry of Sports approved the new All-Russian Anti-Doping Rules. These rules contain the duties and responsibilities of athletes and others, as well as sports organisations. It was defined the actions that are classified as a violation of the rules. Questions of testing for the presence of illegal drugs in the body are regulated.

 It was decided to introduce large fines for violating the procedure for deleting and (or) restricting access to the prohibited information. This includes, inter alia, child pornography, incitement to extremism, information on the methods of creating, manufacture and use of drugs, as well as places of their acquisition. 

 The Federal Tax Service informs that the procedure for taxation of income obtained by controllable foreign companies has been changed as follows: 

 Operators of digital financial platforms (marketplaces) will have access to the automated information system for OSAGO. This will make possible including formalisation of auto insurance contracts into the list of services provided by marketplaces.

 Mikhail Mishustin signed a decision on the obligation of telecom operators to provide a free call to a universal telephone number 122 for issues related to the spread of a new coronavirus infection. At the specified number, it will be possible to contact around the clock the unified operational assistance service for COVID-19.

 The Ministry of Finance explained under what conditions an organisation engaged in the development and support of Internet sites has the right to apply reduced rates of insurance premiums.

 A new type of entities has emerged in Russia since 2021 that is a trusted third party. It is designed to provide confidence in the exchange of electronic documents with electronic signatures. Requirements for means of trusted third parties have been approved, including requirements for digital signature tools. Means of trusted third parties includes the following:

 Transfer of rights to computer programmes and databases shall be exempt from VAT if: 

 The suspension of flights with the UK extended until February 1, 2021 inclusive. 

It was decided to restore the sobering-up system in Russia. This refers to specialized medical facilities to provide assistance to persons in a state of alcoholic, narcotic or other intoxication. The rules for the operation of sobering-up stations, including the types of assistance provided in them, will be approved by a joint act of the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The RF Ministry of Internal Affairs has updated the regulations on issuance and replacement of citizens’ passports. A novelty is a prescribed ban on submitting photos with eye-glasses that change the natural colour of the eyes.

 The Ministry of Public Health again postponed the entry into force of the rules on mandatory testing for drug addiction and alcoholism when obtaining a driver's licence or replacement thereof until January 1, 2022 (but not from January 1, 2021, as previously planned).

 Starting from that date, credit institutions, credit consumer cooperatives, pawnshops and non-governmental pension funds shall arrange interaction with the Financial Ombudsman. As a general rule, consumers, prior to filing a claim against such financial institutions for an amount not exceeding 500,000 roubles, shall now first apply to the Financial Ombudsman for a dispute resolution.

 Basically, the amendments relate to the legal regime of the results of intellectual activity created during the performance of a state or municipal contract.

 In accordance with a new part 9 of Article 7.32.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation, fines shall be introduced for violation by the customer of the established deadline for payment for goods, works or services under an agreement concluded following purchases with small and medium enterprises. Officials of customers or legal entities will be punished with a fine.

 The programme applies to the purchase of cars made in Russia.

 On December 29, 2020, amendments to the Fundamentals of the Legislation of the Russian Federation on Notaries came into force concerning the procedure for performing notarial acts in electronic. One of the main innovations: the Fundamentals of the Legislation of the Russian Federation on Notaries now provide for possibility of certifying a transaction with the involvement of two or more notaries for cases when two or more persons are involved in the transaction without their joint visit to a notary.

 The Ministry of Education and the Federal Service for Supervision over Education announced decisions taken due to the complicated epidemiological situation regarding the procedure for holding the Uniform State Examination and the state final certification of graduates of the 9th and 11th grades in 2021.