Tax Messenger
Summaries of key tax and legal developments in legislation and case law and the latest issues affecting human resource management, prepared by B1's experts in Russia
Price rises for drugs not on the essential medicines list: anti-monopoly risks
There has been an increase in the number of inspections and disputes between the Russian Federal Anti-Monopoly Service and pharmaceutical companies over price rises for drugs not on the essential medicines list (EML) and the justification for those rises.
25.08.2025
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Rules for foreign investment in the Russian economy simplified
On 1 July 2025 the President of Russia signed Edict No. 436 "On Additional Guarantees of the Rights of Foreign Investors". The Edict simplifies foreign investment in the Russian economy by allowing foreign investors – including investors from unfriendly jurisdictions – to purchase Russian securities without prior approval from regulators.
07.07.2025
Non-use trademark cancellation: risks for foreign right holders are beginning to materialize. Part 2
Case law regarding the early termination of trademark protection due to non-use, one example of which is the recent case involving the early termination of protection for a series of trademarks held by the Swedish company Telefonaktiebolaget L. M. Ericsson, is continuing to build in Russia.
11.06.2025
The Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia is preparing a draft decree to increase environmental fee rates
In early June 2025, Kommersant and RBC reported that the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia was in the process of drafting a government decree proposing increases in the basic rates of the environmental fee (eco-fee) from 2026. The document envisages severalfold increases in eco-fee rates for almost all categories of goods and packaging – depending on the item, rates may go up between 3 and 18 times.
11.06.2025
Overview of the 17th package of EU sanctions
On 20 May 2025, the EU Council adopted the 17th package of sanctions against Russia. The new measures are primarily aimed at the activities of the so-called "shadow fleet" used to transport Russian oil. In particular, 189 vessels have been added to the list of ships banned from entering the ports of EU member states. In addition, a new EU Regulation has been adopted to counter Russia’s destabilizing actions abroad.
26.05.2025