Proposed modifications for August within civic life and commercial affairs
In August 2022, Russia witnessed a series of changes across various sectors, affecting civil life and business. Here's a summary of the key developments:
Tobacco and Nicotine-Containing Products
Producers and sellers risk losing their freedom if they sell unmarked batches of tobacco and nicotine-containing products.
Exports
Exporters will benefit from the "Single Window" system, enabling them to confirm the zero rate of VAT and file complaints about decisions of state bodies.
Elections in Belarus and Russia
Russians living in Belarus and Belarusian citizens who permanently reside in Russia will be able to participate in elections.
Broader Definition of Desecration
The concept of "desecration" has been broadened to include actions beyond destruction or damage. Desecration of military graves, stele, obelisks, monuments, and other memorial structures dedicated to military history can now result in a criminal charge, with potential imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 3 million rubles.
Counterfeit Excise Stamps
Stricter penalties will be imposed for counterfeiting and selling counterfeit excise stamps for nicotine-containing products.
Social Benefits for Elderly Citizens
Elderly citizens in Russia may see an increase in their social benefits starting August 1.
Antimonopoly Service and State Tenders
From August, the antimonopoly service in Russia will start using a neuro-system called "Anticartel" to analyze state tenders for signs of collusion among participants.
Banking Regulations for Teenagers
Starting August 1, teenagers aged 14 to 18 in Russia will require parental or guardian consent to open a bank account.
Construction of Engineering Communications
A new regulation has come into force for the construction, reconstruction, capital repair, and operation of engineering communications, lines, and communication structures within the boundaries of road strips and roadside strips of automobile roads.
Patent Applications
The timeframe for applying for a patent has been extended, allowing applicants to do so within a year of disclosing information about the invention, not six months as before.
Education for Combat Veterans
Participants in combat actions will be able to enroll in educational institutions with old EGE results, and the validity period of the document will not include the time spent in the active army.
Reporting Precious Metals Purchases
The purchase of precious metals worth more than one million rubles must be reported to Rosfinmonitoring by the bank.
Shell Companies
The creation of shell companies, where a company's founder is another company, is now allowed in Russia, but the director of the founding company cannot hold an analogous position in the second structure.
Opt-Out for Mass Messages
A new measure to combat remote fraud allows users to opt-out of mass messages.
Monitoring of Transactions
Adults can request statements from their child's bank account to monitor their transactions.
Prison Terms for Unmarked Tobacco Batches
The prison term for selling unmarked batches is up to three years.
These changes reflect the Russian government's ongoing efforts to regulate various aspects of life and business, and to consolidate political control following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. For more precise legal texts or detailed regulatory changes for specific categories like tobacco or patent law from August 2022, further targeted archival or governmental sources consultation would be required.
Sports organizations in Russia must comply with stricter regulations, as the government has begun monitoring and controlling sports events more closely, in an effort to maintain political order following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Unmarked tobacco batches, in the context of sports, could lead to conviction and imprisonment for up to three years, as the sale of these products without proper identification is now a criminal offense.
