Several new laws and regulations are set to take effect in Russia in August 2025, impacting various aspects of life for Russian citizens. These changes range from pension recalculations and IT deferment application deadlines to stricter penalties for desecrating military memorials and new rules for bank accounts for teenagers.
Working pensioners will see a recalculation of their insurance pensions starting August 1, 2025. The Social Fund will automatically recalculate pensions based on individual pension coefficients (IPC) accumulated in 2024, with a maximum increase of 437.07 rubles. Additionally, payments will increase for pensioners turning 80 in July, those with disability group I, and allowances for caring for the first two groups.
The deadline for IT specialists to apply for army deferments through the “Gosuslugi” portal is August 6. This applies to men aged 18-30 with Russian citizenship, relevant higher education, and employment contracts in accredited IT companies for at least 11 months in the past year. Organizations must verify employee data by August 11, with final decisions made by draft commissions between October 1 and December 31.
Opening bank accounts for minors aged 14-18 will become more restricted. From August, parental or guardian consent will be required, except for emancipated minors. This aims to protect children from fraudulent schemes.
Stricter penalties are introduced for desecrating military memorials, effective August 3. This includes any actions that worsen the condition or appearance of memorials, with fines up to 3 million rubles or imprisonment up to 3 years for non-aggravated actions, and up to 5 million rubles or 5 years imprisonment for aggravated violations, even those committed abroad.
Liability for the turnover of unmarked nicotine-containing products is tightened. Fines up to 500,000 rubles, forced labor up to three years, or imprisonment for the same period with a fine up to 120,000 rubles will be imposed for production without proper labeling. Additionally, penalties are introduced for creating fake identification, excise, and special marks for alcohol and tobacco.
Russians gain the right to opt out of SMS mailings and spam from August 1. This can be done through telecom operators’ websites or mobile apps. A “Gosuslugi” portal service for spam complaints is also planned.
The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) launches the “Anti-Cartel” system on August 1. This AI-based system identifies collusion and antitrust violations in tenders, with potential administrative fines and criminal liability for participants.
A labeling experiment for sausages and other meat products begins on August 1. The experiment is divided into two stages, focusing first on consumer packaging and later on semi-finished and frozen products.
Updated state standards for children’s toys will take effect in August. These standards classify toys by age, materials, and activities, and include new safety requirements and risk assessments. The standard also includes new recommendations for school backpacks, including weight limits and material specifications.