Digest | 23 October – 30 October 2025

The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has proposed expanding the list of strategic sectors, where transactions require approval from the Government Commission, to include subsoil use on regionally significant sites and fish production. Foreign investors would also have to notify the authorities if they acquire a 5% or larger stake in a strategic company.

The bill was first published in February. In April, the FAS revised it following feedback, but legal uncertainty remains due to the broad definition of strategic companies. The bill would cover not only companies currently operating in critical sectors, but also those that could enter these sectors in the future if they have the necessary resources.

The criteria will be based on one key principle: “do no harm to domestic businesses.” They will be developed following consultations with the business community. The State Council’s Investment Commission has proposed creating a register of bona fide foreign investors and offering them a “simplified approach and government support” when seeking regulatory approvals and access to support measures.

The President instructed the Government to develop rules for the return of foreign businesses in March and later asked it to consider proposals from leading business associations. Since then, the Ministry of Economic Development and other relevant agencies have been working on the conditions for their return.

From 2026, customs fees on imported goods will increase by 11.7%–15.3% for goods with a customs value of up to RUB 4.2 million. For goods worth more than RUB 5.5 million, fees will increase by 1.8 to 2.46 times. The upper value threshold will rise from RUB 7 million to RUB 10 million. For shipments above this threshold, the fee will be RUB 73,860, up from RUB 30,000.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said the rates are being updated to reflect accumulated inflation. However, the rates were already adjusted from January 1, 2025, based on five years of accumulated inflation. The maximum fee of RUB 30,000 has remained unchanged since 2004.

The Central Bank has submitted proposals to the Government on equal treatment, competition and safety requirements for banks affiliated with online marketplaces. Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina said that the scale of marketplace operations calls for special requirements. She also pointed to what she sees as unfair competition created by discounts offered by marketplaces through their own banks.

The Government is now drafting regulations under the platform economy law adopted this summer. Of the four planned regulations, one is being prepared by the Ministry of Finance and the other three by the Ministry of Economic Development. At the same time, possible amendments to the law itself are already being discussed.

The State Duma has proposed requiring commercial companies to replace foreign software with Russian alternatives. The requirement currently applies to the public sector and organizations classified as critical information infrastructure (CII) entities.

In 2022, the President signed a decree requiring all significant CII facilities operated by state-owned companies and government bodies to switch to Russian software by January 1, 2025. Not all organizations have managed to complete the transition. In September, the Ministry of Digital Development said it was preparing regulations that would require CII entities to switch to Russian software by January 1, 2028, with a possible extension to December 1, 2030, where there are objective grounds.

The proposal is consistent with the broader policy of software import substitution, but it would also create additional costs for private businesses.