Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved legislation mandating the exclusive use of Russian language for public signage and informational displays. The "Law on the Protection of the Russian Language" appeared on the government's official legal information website.
These regulatory changes amend several existing federal statutes, including consumer protection laws and shared construction regulations, with implementation scheduled for March 1, 2026. Under the new rules, all commercial establishments, offices, and public spaces must display information exclusively in Russian, though regional languages may appear alongside Russian text provided the content remains identical in both versions. Historical signage installed before the law's effective date will remain exempt from these requirements.
The presidential signature also ratified several other legislative measures: - Legislation enabling courts to impose fines (up to 50,000 rubles for individuals and 500,000 rubles for organizations) on "foreign agents" for violations occurring abroad - Creation of a national messaging platform integrated with the Gosuslugi government services portal - Expanded asset freezing provisions to include suspected sabotage accomplices, previously limited to terrorism and extremism cases - New criminal penalties (maximum six-year imprisonment) for financial intermediaries ("droppers") assisting fraud operations - Banking regulations requiring parental approval for account openings by minors aged 14-18