RS Law digest Main changes in the Law of the Russian Federation from May 13, 2013 to August 2, 2013

Main changes in the Law of the Russian Federation from May 13, 2013 to August 2, 2013

September 2013

1. Information about alcohol supplies to be broadcast using telecommunications channels

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On October 1, 2013, a new procedure for providing notification about the start of retail sales of alcohol in the Russian Federation will come into force. The notifications will need to be provided to Russia's regulating body for alcohol, Rosalkogolregulirovaniye, by legal entities responsible for supplying particular lines of alcoholic drinks on RF territory, in the form of a digital document signed with an enhanced digital document signature, via telecommunications channels, including the "Unified portal for state and municipal services (and functions)". Within 1 business day of receiving notification, Rosalkogolregulirovaniye will send confirmation that it has received the notification to the organization, in digital format. The information about alcoholic products contained in the notification will then be entered into the register. The information contained in the register can be accessed on the official website of Rosalkogolregulirovaniye.

2. Preparations underway for the FIFA World Cup in 2018

A federal law has been signed on the planning and staging of the FIFA World Cup in the Russian Federation in 2018, regulating the planning and staging of the FIFA football world championships in Russia in 2018, and the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017.

Specifically, the law regulates:

  • rules governing entry into the Russian Federation and exit from the Russian Federation, and immigration records for foreign citizens and stateless individuals in connection with the planning and staging of the tournament;
  • aspects of employment laws in the Russian Federation in connection with the planning and staging of the event;
  • aspects of the provision of security in connection with the planning and staging of the championships;
  • aspects of currency exchange and financial transactions in connection with the planning and staging of the event;
  • aspects of the provision of public transport by road and rail during the championships;
  • aspects of the protection and use of FIFA's commercial rights in the event.

The federal law will come into force on the day of its official publication, with the exception of certain provisions which are due to come into force on a different date.

3. RF and UAE: agreement on the avoidance of double taxation ratified

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Sculpture related to 2018 FIFA World Cup, Saransk

An agreement has been ratified by Russia and the United Arab Emirates regarding the payment of income tax on investments by the states that are parties to the agreement, and their financial and investment institutions. The agreement was signed on December 7, 2011 in Abu-Dhabi.

The agreement covers the tax on profits paid by organizations in Russia, and the corporation and income taxes which nominally exist in the UAE, including the provincial income taxes paid in each of the Emirates. The agreement is aimed at avoiding double taxation on passive income (income that stems from investments, loans and ownership of real estate).

4. RF and Mongolia. Agreement on temporary employment ratified

An agreement designed to provide effective regulation of the flow of migrant workers and achieve the optimum relationship between the number of workers, the fields in which they work and the nature of the workforce, and the socio-economic development of the parties and the provision of favourable conditions for the movement of the workforce around the states that are party to the agreement. The agreement stipulates that employees must have a work permit, issued in accordance with the legislation of the host country, in order to undertake paid work. If an employee is found to have carried out paid work, or is currently carrying out paid work, in addition to the work for which the work permit was issued, or to have moved to a different employer, this permit will be cancelled and the employee will be obliged to leave the host country within 15 days of the date their work permit is cancelled.

5. A simplified procedure for obtaining citizenship

Under the changes made to the law "On Citizenship in the Russian Federation", those involved in the State programme for the support for voluntary relocation of ethnic Russians to the Russian Federation, as well as members of their families arriving in the Russian Federation with them, will be able to benefit from a simplified procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship, without the mandatory 5-year period of residency in Russia and without having to obtain a residency permit in the Russian Federation, and also without having to provide proof of a legitimate source of income, or having to confirm their ability in the Russian language.

Moreover, amendments have been made to the Federal Law "On the Rights of Foreign citizens in the Russian Federation", concerning issues related to the cancellation of temporary residency permits or residency permits, issued to those taking part in the State programme and their family members. Specifically, these documents may be cancelled, if it is established, inter alia, that during the 5 years preceding their application for a temporary residency permit or residency permit, the aforementioned individuals were deported from the Russian Federation; provided falsified or misleading documents, or gave false information about themselves; or have been convicted of a grave or particularly grave crime in the Russian Federation for which their sentence has not yet been fully served or has not yet been cancelled.

6. Control over financial operations

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In order to limit capital outflow from the Russian Federation, the list of currency-related operations subject to financial control has been expanded. Cross-border transfers of RF currency from one resident to another, and transfers of RF currency by a resident, from one account to an account opened outside the country, or from one of their accounts to another when both accounts were opened outside the Russian Federation, are now classed as currency-related operations.

7. Education certificates with enhanced protection

By the Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia on the approval of the form for certificates certifying documents from foreign states confirming level of education and / or qualifications on the territory of the Russian Federation, the form for certificates certifying documents from foreign states confirming level of education and qualifications on the territory of the Russian Federation was approved. The certificate is a form with category "A" protection against falsification, prepared in accordance with a common template.

8. Leaving the Russian Federation at your own expense

Foreign citizens or stateless individuals who do not have a legal basis for residing in the Russian Federation and who have been ordered by a court order to return to their country of citizenship may now arrange their departure from the country voluntarily and at their own expense. Any costs incurred in connection with their departure are not categorized as cost obligations of the RF, but are covered using other sources, and the readmission procedure temporarily ceases to have effect.

A three-year ban is imposed on entering the RF in respect of foreign citizens and stateless individuals, who were sent to a foreign state as part of a readmission procedure, but with regard to whom the readmission procedure has been cancelled.

9. No work until you turn 18

Foreign citizens may only be employed in the Russian Federation if they have reached the age of 18. An exception to this rule is in place for cinemas, theatres, theatre and concert organizations, circuses and sportsmen and sportswomen aged under 18.

The RF Labour Code has also had an amendment introduced into it, under which the general regulations for negotiating employment contracts will not apply to contracts with foreign employees.

10. Work and study

It has been stipulated that the employer and the customer benefiting from work (or services) are entitled to hire and employ foreign staff without permission to hire and employ foreign staff, if the foreign citizens are attending a course of study in the RF at a professional educational institution or a higher educational institution, for a main professional education programme which is accredited at state level.

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