The State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted the Law¹ in the third reading which provides the opportunity to require early termination of leases for tenants affected by the deteriorating economic situation resulting from the spread of a new coronavirus infection. The final version of the Law in this part has undergone multiple fundamental changes.

This refers to the fast track registration and conduct of clinical trials, which is valid until January 1, 2021 and is worked out for medical drugs potentially effective in the fight against COVID-19.

On April 30, 2020, The Presidium of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as “the SC”) adopted the Review on certain matters of judicial practice related to the application of legislation and measures to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) No. 2 (hereinafter “Review”). The release of the second review was known in advance: it was reported on the official website of the SC, and after the release of the first review many unresolved issues remained.

In view of the ruling of the Presidium of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation and the Presidium of the Council of Judges of the Russian Federation from March 18, 2020 Russian courts have been working in a new “self-isolated” regime for just over a month. Personal reception of citizens in courts is suspended, it is recommended to submit documents through electronic reception of courts, and courts are considering only certain categories of cases.

Federal law No 123-FZ sets a legal framework in Moscow for the development and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The experimental legal framework is established for five years starting from 1 July 2020.

On April 18, 2020, the President of the Russian Federation signed a decree “On temporary measures to regulate the legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Russian Federation in connection with the threat of the further spread of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19)” (“Decree”).

At the beginning of the month Russian regulators implemented a draft law, which provides for the possibility of the Government of the Russian Federation by its act to introduce a moratorium on initiation of bankruptcy proceedings under natural and man-made emergencies, significant changes in the ruble exchange rate and similar exceptional circumstances (for more details see the update).

By the end of 2020, the Pension Fund must be notified of the employee’s employment and dismissal within one business day

On February 04, 2020, the Russian Constitutional Court recognized clause 2 of article 67 of the Russian Labour Code (employer’s obligation to issue an employment contract within 3 business days from the date of the employee’s actual work authorization or the date of the court’s recognition of civil relations as labor ones) and paragraph 1 of clause 8 of article 13 of the Federal law No. 115-FZ “On the legal status of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation” (obligation of an employer or customer to notify regarding the conclusion or termination (cancellation) of the labor or civil contract with a foreign citizen within 3 business days from the date of concluding or termination (cancellation) of the relevant contract) as constitutionally acceptable.

The period from March 30th till April 30th were declared as non-working days with preservation of salary payments under President’s decrees No. 206 of 25 March 2020 “On declaration of non-working days in the Russian Federation” and No. 239 of 2 April 2020 “On measures for people’s sanitary-epidemiological welfare in condition of new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spread”. Since primary intention of decrees is to reduce personal contacts during communication of disease, employers subsequently raised up questions about remote work and compensations during this period.