It has been reported in public sources that the Sub-Commission of the Government Commission for Control of Foreign Investments in the Russian Federation (the “Sub-Commission”), which issues permits for the sale of Russian assets by companies from ‘unfriendly’ countries, has decided to tighten the conditions for the exit of foreign companies from the Russian market.

On 27.09.2024 the Decree of the Government the Russian Federation No. 1278 was published. This Decree amends for the Regulation on Patent and Other Fees for Legally Significant Actions.

On 1 September 2024, a joint order of the Ministry of Industry and Trade No. 3554 and the Ministry of Health No. 406n dated 7 August 2024 (hereinafter referred to as the “Order”) entered into force, approving a new procedure for providing the Ministry of Industry and Trade with information on medicines necessary for the purposes of licensing their production and inspecting the subjects of their circulation for compliance the requirements of good manufacturing practice. The Order replaced the previously existing procedure for interdepartmental interaction between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Bankruptcy Law has gone through many changes over the past summer, but perhaps the hottest of them all was published on 29.5.2024 and applies to petitions filed after the date, regardless of the date of the procedure used in the bankruptcy case. We propose to familiarize ourselves with the most significant of them.

On September 8, new state fees came into force for applications by legal entities and individuals to arbitration courts and courts of general jurisdiction. The new procedure applies to any applications and complaints filed with the court from September 9, 2024.

On 8 August Federal Law No. 300-FZ came into force, introducing a number of amendments to legislation, the most important of which affect regulation of economically significant organizations (hereinafter – “ESO”). Read more about the status of ESO in our updates as of 4 August 2023.

On 8 August 2024, the Arbitration Court of the Moscow Region satisfied the claim of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade against foreign company – Besloten Vennootschap Megapolis Distribution B.V. (distributor of Japan Tobacco, Phillip Morris, Red Bull, Durex and other brands) for suspension of its corporate rights in an economically significant organization (hereinafter – “ESO”) JSC “Megapolis Trade Company”.

On 8 August 2024, federal laws introducing a number of changes to the regulation of Russian LLC and JSC activities were published: Federal Law No. 305-FZ dated 08.08.2024 “On Amendments to Articles 48 and 66 of the Federal Law “On Joint Stock Companies” and Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” (hereinafter – “Law No. 305”) and Federal Law No. 287-FZ dated 08.08.2024 “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Joint Stock Companies” and Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” (hereinafter – “Law No. 287”).

On July 30, 2024, laws aimed at regulating cryptoassets were passed by the State Duma and approved by the Federation Council. They promote the use of cryptocurrency, stablecoins and DFAs in cross-border settlements.

On July 22, 2024, the President of Russia signed Federal Law No. 190-FZ “On Amendments to Part Four of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation” (Federal Law). The amendments establish the procedure for the use of works whose author or right holder is unknown (“orphan” works).