Key Tax Developments in Russia – Q1 2025

Trends in Criminal and Criminal Procedure Legislation and Practice in 2024

Overview of Key Developments in Taxation and Currency Regulation in 2024

Trust, but Verify: Gifts between Individuals Now Require Notarial Certification

Significant Increase in Liability for Personal Data Processing Offences

Changes in Rospatent’s Operations

Private Foundations: Regulatory Changes

Presidential Decree on Suspension of Double Taxation Treaties with 38 Countries Published

Presidential Decree No. 585 “On Suspension by Russia of Certain Provisions of Russia’s International Treaties on Taxation Matters” (the Decree) was published on 8 August 2023. This Decree represents a natural development of the initiative announced by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia to unilaterally suspend Double Taxation Treaties (the DTT, the Treaty) in response to the European Union’s decision to place Russia on the list of jurisdictions that do not cooperate with the EU on taxation matters.

Sweeping Changes in the Russian Tax Code

On 21 July 2023, the State Duma of the Russian Federation (the State Duma) passed in its third reading bill No. 369931-8, implementing the key areas of the fiscal policy for 2023 and the target period. The proposed amendments are systemic and stipulate changes to 30 chapters of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation (the Russian Tax Code). The key amendments are summarised below.

Statistics of Lawsuits for Damages Against Top Managers for 2022

On 19 April 2023, the Judicial Department of the Russian Supreme Court published court statistics for 2022. According to the statistics, the amount of damages recovered from top managers has grown more than 10 times, while the number of lawsuits filed and claims sustained remains the same. Specifically, in 2022, more than RUB 165bn was recovered in damages (versus RUB 3.8bn in 2021 and less than RUB 1bn in 2020).

Key Provisions of the Case Law Overview Regarding Unauthorised Construction

The last year was memorable in terms of construction law as on 16 November 2022, the Presidium of the Supreme Court approved the Case Law Overview Regarding Unauthorised Construction.

Bill on the External Management of Foreign Companies

On April 12, 2022, bill No. 104796-8 on the external management in companies with foreign participation that intend to suspend or terminate their activities in Russia (hereinafter referred to as the Bill) was submitted for consideration by the State Duma.

Сriminal Liability for the Execution of Western Sanctions on the Territory of Russian Federation

On April 7, 2022, legislative proposal № 102053-8[1] that provides amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation establishing responsibility for the implementation of sanctions adopted against the Russian Federation within the country was submitted to the State Duma of the Russian Federation for consideration.

Russian Counter Sanctions Review From April 7, 2022

This memorandum summarises the counter sanctions the Russian Federation has imposed against the unfriendly actions of the USA and their allied foreign countries and international organisations from 21 February to 7 April 2022 (13:00).

Selected Aspects of IP Rights Protection of “Unfriendly States” Companies – Recent Trends

On March 02, 2022, the Arbitration Court of the Kirov Region made a ruling in widely discussed case No. A28-11930/2021, which refused to satisfy the claim of Entertainment One UK Limited for compensation for infringement of the rights to trademarks and works of art (“Peppa Pig”, "Daddy Pig").