News

EU adopts 18th package of sanctions against Russia

On 19 July 2025, legal acts formalising the 18th package of European Union restrictive measures (sanctions) were published.

New rules of financing loan participations

In early July 2025, the State Duma adopted in the third reading a draft law amending the Law on Syndicated Loans related to sub-participation in a syndicated loan.

Adoption of Presidential Decree on additional guarantees for foreign investors

On 1 July 2025, the President of the Russian Federation signed Decree No. 436 “On Additional Guarantees for Rights of Foreign Investors,” allowing foreign investors to invest in the Russian Federation without observing certain counter-sanction restrictions.

Trademark troll alert: protect your brand in Russia

The year 2025 marks three years since many international brands exited the Russian market. Under Russian law, trademarks that have not been actively used for three consecutive years become vulnerable to cancellation, giving interested parties the opportunity to initiate legal actions to terminate their protection. While some businesses may be quietly exploring how to rebuild bridges, trademark trolls are already lurking beneath these bridges, ready to capitalise on trademarks that appear unused.

Draft law on the right to deny foreign investors who have left the market the option of repurchasing assets

The Draft Law proposes amendments to Federal Law No. 160-FZ “On Foreign Investment in the Russian Federation” dated 9 July 1999.

New EU and UK sanctions against Russia

On 20 May 2025, the European Union (“EU”) and the United Kingdom (“UK”) announced new coordinated sanctions targeting Russia. Among the key sectors of the economy affected by the sanctions are the energy and military sectors. Our team summarises the main new introductions of the 17th EU sanctions package and UK sanctions in this legal update.

EU adds criteria for imposing sanctions and makes it harder to challenge them

On 14 May 2025, the Council of the EU published Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/904, which added the criteria for imposing EU blocking sanctions and significantly changed the proof process in cases of sanctions challenges by leading Russian businesspersons.

Increasing profits tax rate for organisations using trademarks of foreign companies that have ceased their activities in Russia

In response to the exodus of foreign companies from the Russian market and the subsequent discussion of their possible return, the State Duma has introduced two interrelated draft laws, No. 879837-8 and No. 879812-8, aimed, as lawmakers suggest, at protecting the domestic market and supporting domestic business.

Tougher personal data localisation requirements from 1 July 2025

On 28 February 2025, a federal law amending the Federal Law “On Personal Data” was published. The amendments will enter into force on 1 July 2025 and tighten the requirements for the localisation of personal data of citizens of the Russian Federation. In addition, based on the amendments, localisation requirements now apply not only to operators, but also to “processors” (persons processing personal data as instructed).

EU adopts 16th package of sanctions against Russia

On 24 February 2025, legal acts formalising the 16th package of European Union restrictive measures (sanctions) agains Russia. Read further in our legal update.

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