In December 2014, Russia’s authorities faced a severe foreign exchange crisis, which forced them to increase the CBR key interest rate to 17% and to order a number of major state-owned companies, including Gazprom and Rosneft , that their foreign exchange reserves should be brought back to the...

In December, the following main amendments were introduced in the legislation: quotas were replaced with patents for foreign workers who arrive in Russia on a visa-free basis; employers rights to establish associations have been expanded; from January 1, 2015 the minimum monthly wage increased; the...

In March, amendments were introduced in Part One of the RF Civil Code concerning norms in the fi eld of the law of obligations; the conditions of recognizing foreign citizens to be highly qualifi ed specialists were defi ned in more precise detail; the rules for changing, in 2015, by agreement...

In March 2015, the topmost headline-makers were various economic issues, including the ongoing discussion on the new draft budget for 2015–2017 and on the future course of Russia’s economic policy. However, the beginning of March was also marked by two very serious and purely political...

In October the current turmoil in Russia’s international relations palpably stagnated. At the same time, Russia’s economic-political scene displayed alarming portents of future troubles in her business environment: it is not an exaggeration to say that, in October, Russia found herself on...

In September–October 2014, the following main changes were introduced into the legislation: the terms of the Federal Law on the Foundations of the System of Preventive Measures Against Neglect of Minors and Juvenile Delinquency were brought in compliance with the Federal Law on Education in...

In November 2014, Vladimir Putin declared that he had no intentions to become Russia’s president-for-life. In spite of Putin’s assurances, this public statement has inevitably sent an alarming signal to society. In November 2014, a court of justice seized the company Bashneft from Vladimir...

In November, the following changes were introduced into the legislation: a limitation has been lifted for Crimean legal entities incorporated with state participation as regards reregistration of founding documents in compliance with the Russian legislation; a law on legal regulation of...

A new truce was arranged in Ukraine in February 2015, following a meeting involving the leaders of Russia, France and the German Chancellor. However, the very context of Minsk II Agreements repeats the numerous understatements of Minsk I Agreements and can be broken any time unless solid...

In February, the following main amendments were introduced into the legislation: a procedure for notification by the employer of conclusion of a contract with an individual who fi lled in certain public and municipal service positions was updated; holders of the right to outputs of intellectual...