On the February, 1st 2018 the Federal Law No. 486-FZ “On Syndicated Loan and Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” dated 31.12.2017 (hereinafter — the “Law”) came into force.

On April 13, 2018 the draft law (hereinafter — the “Draft law”) imposing measures (countermeasures) in response to the hostile acts of the USA and (or) other foreign countries has been introduced to State Duma by both State Duma’s chairman and parliamentary leaders.

On 1 June 2018 the Federal Law No. 212-FZ (“Law 212-FZ”) entered into force. Law 212-FZ changes the regulation of obligations and certain types of contracts. Below we review changes regarding cession, loan agreement, escrow account and letter of credit.

Recently Rospatent officially launched a service for fast-track registration of trademarks and patents.

On February 13, 2018, the Russian Constitutional Court issued the Ruling in which it checked validity of the regime of parallel import and related legal remedies.

On 8 November 2017 a draft bill¹ (“Bill”) adopting amendments to the EFRS (Unified Federal Register of Companies’ Information) has been introduced to the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

On January 19, 2018 State Duma has passed in the first reading the introduced by Russian Government draft law (hereinafter — the “Draft law”) providing changes to the Federal law dated 12.04.2010 No. 61-FZ “On drugs (medicines) circulation” (hereinafter — “61-FZ”).

On November 28, 2017 Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation (hereinafter — the “Supreme Court”) adopted the Resolution “On some issues arising when considering administrative liability cases under article 19.29 of the Russian Administrative Offences Code (hereinafter — the “Resolution”).

On December 13, 2017, the Moscow Arbitrazh Court rendered decision in case No. A40-159212/17 in which KYB Corporation appealed against the warning letter of FAS Russia (hereinafter ─ FAS) regarding the violation of the antitrust legislation by struggling against parallel import.