Legal Regulatory Guide Russia Q1–Q2 2026

Russia's regulatory environment continued to evolve at a rapid pace in the first half of 2026, with significant developments affecting the technology sector, consumer protection, and state control rules. This guide provides a practical overview of the key regulatory developments relevant to businesses operating in or with Russia.

• In the TMT sector, the key development was the adoption of a law on artificial intelligence (AI) regulation, entering into force on September 1, 2026, which introduces the concepts of sovereign and national AI models, requirements for labeling AI-generated content, and new rules on the use of publicly available data for model training. New fines were also introduced for violations of the rules on authorization on Russian websites and the use of recommendation technologies, the technology fee on electronic components was postponed until December 1, 2026, and an extension of the Track & Trace system trial for radio-electronic products has been proposed.

• Consumer protection has undergone significant changes: amendments to the Consumer Protection Law limit abuse of consumer claims while simultaneously expanding judicial protection for consumers, and harmonization with Belarus establishes a broader range of remedies for consumers.

• State control continues its digitalization: a fully digital model of administrative proceedings is being introduced, the risk-based approach to scheduling inspections is being expanded, and the right to copy case materials in administrative offence proceedings has been expressly established.

• The Chestny ZNAK labeling system continues to expand to new product categories, manufacturer verification has been introduced to prevent fictitious registration, and automated enforcement of labeled product turnover is being strengthened, including new grounds for prohibiting retail sales.

The regulatory developments outlined above require businesses to take a proactive approach to compliance: reviewing internal labeling and digital traceability procedures, assessing the impact of new fees and fines, preparing for expanded labeling and verification requirements, and monitoring pilot programs that may become mandatory. We hope this guide will help readers better understand the key trends and adapt in a timely manner to the evolving regulatory environment. Read more.