28.01.2026

CURRENCY CONTROL FOR TRANSFERS VIA THE FASTER PAYMENT SYSTEM: ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS FROM BANKS

The Bank of Russia has prepared clarifications for credit institutions regarding currency control for money transfers using the Faster Payment System (also known as SBP).

27.01.2026

‘GREY’ IMPORTS OF CARS BYPASSING FULL CERTIFICATION WILL BE DISCONTINUED

A procedure has been established for confirming compliance with technical regulations for e-commerce goods imported into the EAEU for sale to individuals.

Restrictions have been introduced with respect to the ownership, use, and disposal in Russia and Kazakhstan of wheeled vehicles imported into the EAEU for e-commerce with conformity assessment exemptions. This concerns vehicles that are those released into circulation in another EAEU member state under a simplified certification scheme and imported to Russia or Kazakhstan without undergoing the full conformity assessment procedure.

26.01.2026

RUSSIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATOR REMINDS BUSINESSES TO PAY ENVIRONMENTAL FEE FOR 2025

By 15 April 2026, all manufacturers and importers of goods and packaging included into the government-approved list are required to pay the environmental fee. Companies must also submit to Rosprirodnadzor reports on the weight of goods and packaging, information on independent waste recycling (if carried out), and calculations of the fee payable.

23.01.2026

ROCKWOOL HAS BEEN PLACED UNDER TEMPORARY MANAGEMENT

100% of the shares in the authorised capital of ROCKWOOL limited liability company, owned by ROCKWOOL A/S, and 68% of the shares in the authorised capital of ROCKWOOL-VOLGA LLC, owned by ROCKWOOL A/S, were transferred to the temporary management of Razvitie Stroitelnykh Aktivov joint stock company.

22.01.2026

THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE LIST OF OFFSHORE ZONES

The Ministry of Finance excluded the United Arab Emirates from:

- the List of states and territories that provide preferential tax regimes and (or) do not require disclosure and provision of information when conducting financial transactions (offshore zones);

- the Special List of states and territories that provide a preferential tax regime and (or) do not require disclosure and provision of information when conducting financial transactions (offshore zones).

21.01.2026

EXPERIMENT ON MANDATORY LABELLING OF BABY FOOD HAS BEGUN IN RUSSIA

From January 12 to October 31, 2026, an experiment on labelling dairy and canned baby food products will be held in Russia (for children under three years of age and under one year of age, respectively).

20.01.2026

IMPORT DUTY RATES FOR E-COMMERCE GOODS HAVE BEEN DETERMINED

For e-commerce goods purchased by individuals imported into the EAEU, a uniform customs duty rate of 5% of their value, but no less than 1 euro per kg, has been established. Certain goods are exempt, including passenger cars, motor vehicles equipped for residential use, motorcycles, mopeds, etc. The rates for these goods have been specified.

E-commerce goods are also defined as those exempt from the special procedures and conditions for the movement of e-commerce goods across the EAEU customs border.

19.01.2026

NEW OPEN BANKING API STANDARD HAS BEEN DEVELOPED

The Bank of Russia has developed a standard containing principles and approaches common to all open API specifications applied to data exchange through open programming interfaces. It is intended for then following persons:

- for participants in the exchange of information about financial products, accounts, and other user financial instruments, as well as related information;

- for developers of information technology and software.

The standard enters into force on October 1, 2026.

16.01.2026

THE SPECIAL PROCEDURE FOR DECISION-TAKING BY THE BODIES OF SOME RUSSIAN COMPANIES HAS BEEN EXTENDED

The special procedure for decision-taking by bodies of some Russian organisations has been extended until the end of 2026. In particular, large companies in the energy, engineering and trade sectors can take corporate actions without taking into account the votes of co-owners from unfriendly countries.

15.01.2026

METHODOLOGICAL DOCUMENT ON PROTECTING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS' APPLICATION SOFTWARE - A NEW WORDING HAS BEEN APPROVED

A new wording of the methodological document "Profile for Protecting Application Software of Automated Systems and Applications of Credit Institutions and Non-Credit Financial Institutions" has been approved.

The Bank of Russia recommends using the updated document for development and implementation of secure software products while maintaining a guaranteed and sufficient level of security for application software of automated systems and applications used in financial (including banking) transactions.

14.01.2026

THE PROCEDURE FOR PAYING THE ACTUAL VALUE OF A SHARE IN AN LLC HAS BEEN CLARIFIED

The Law on Limited Liability Companies establishes a rule that in the event of disagreement between the person to whom the actual value of a share (part of a share) in the authorised capital of the company, or the company itself, with the determination of the value of net assets based on the financial statements, the valuation of such assets is carried out based on their market value. This concerns cases of withdrawal or exclusion of a participant from the company, as well as some other situations when a share in the authorised capital is transferred to the company.

An application for the specified method of valuation shall be submitted by the relevant participant or company before the expiry of the period for payment of the actual value of the share. The applicant also engages an appraiser, unless otherwise provided by the company's charter.

If, before the expiry of the period for payment of the actual value of the share, its market valuation has not been carried out or there are disagreements between the parties, the company must pay the value of the share in accordance with the general rules - that is, on the basis of the financial statements - with subsequent recalculation taking into account the market value of the share.

It is also envisaged that the option of assessing a share at market value may be enshrined in the company’s charter by default. A similar mechanism can be applied in the event of foreclosure on a share at the request of the participant’s creditors.

13.01.2026

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN A LIST OF INFORMATION THEY MAY NOT DISCLOSE IN 2026

The Bank of Russia has specified the composition of information that is not subject to mandatory publication by the Bank of Russia itself, as well as by credit institutions, foreign banks operating in Russia through branches, non-credit financial companies, entities providing professional services in the financial market, and subjects of the national payment system, on their websites in 2026.

12.01.2026

A SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE FOR IMPORTING SMARTPHONES, TABLETS, LAPTOPS, AND MICROCHIPS INTO RUSSIA WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH 2026

As specified on the Russian Government's website, the simplified procedure shall apply to obtaining notifications for smartphones, tablets, laptops, computers, microchips, and radios. Typically, to obtain notification for importing such devices or equipment into Russia, their manufacturer must file an application with the authorised organisation - the Center for Licensing, Certification, and Protection of State Secrets of the FSB of Russia. The simplified procedure allows notifications to be issued by industry associations.

09.01.2026

THE KEY RATE HAS BEEN REDUCED TO 16% PER ANNUM

On December 19, 2025, the Bank of Russia decided to reduce the key rate by 50 bps to 16% per annum.

The Central Bank of the Russian Federation will maintain such tight monetary conditions as are necessary to bring inflation back to its target. According to the forecast of the Bank of Russia, annual inflation will decrease to 4-5% in 2026. In 2027 and beyond, it will be on target level.

The next meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Russia on the level of the key rate is scheduled for February 13, 2026.

08.01.2026

IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED WHICH SERVICES CAN BE PROVIDED BY RESIDENTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL TERRITORY OF ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT

Starting in 2026, the Far Eastern Federal District will create favourable conditions for implementing projects with foreign partners to produce high-value-added products. The list of types of work (services) performed (provided) by residents of the international territory of advanced development has been approved. These include:

- overhaul and modernisation of aircraft and engines;

- wireless telecommunications services;

- services in the area of IT, engineering design, technical testing;

- services related to scientific research and experimental development in the area of biotechnology, information security, and in the area of technical sciences and technologies;

- services (works) in the area of information protection and ensuring the security of critical information infrastructure.

07.01.2026

IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED WHAT INFORMATION NON-CREDIT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS MAY NOT DISCLOSE IN 2026

It lists information that non-credit financial institutions, including central counterparties and central depositories, may not disclose in 2026. Decisions on these issues were also taken for 2024 and 2025.

This decision of the Bank of Russia does not cancel the obligations established by federal laws or acts of the Central Bank to provide the regulator and other persons with information that is permitted not to be disclosed.