Russia
Starting in March 2026, the rules for transferring agricultural land, the procedure for dismissing migrants, and the standards of service for air passengers will change in Russia. This was reported on February 27 by the Delovoy Peterburg newspaper.
In Russia, from March 1, the transfer of agricultural land to other categories will take place on the principle of "two keys". The regions retain the right to make decisions, but now they will need to coordinate the general plans for the development of territories with the Ministry of Agriculture. The Agency will issue conclusions based on data from the federal information system.
In addition, legislative changes prohibit changing the purpose of mining sites. From March 1, 2026, owners will be able to apply for a category change through the Gosuslugi portal. These measures are aimed at combating abuse and preserving areas suitable for agriculture.
Employers will also have the right to terminate employment contracts with foreign citizens based on regional quotas. Previously, the Labor Code allowed employees to be fired only if federal restrictions changed. The innovation eliminates legal uncertainty and allows companies to respond promptly to decisions of local authorities.
In addition, electronic forms of disability certificates due to occupational injuries have been introduced in the medical field since March. The documents will be transmitted through the state information system, which will provide employers with prompt access to digital statements. The format of psychiatric examinations is also changing.
"Now, if a doctor sees signs of a disorder, he immediately directs an employee to a specialized psychiatric commission. This speeds up obtaining an opinion and reduces the company's administrative costs," said Alfiya Temir—Bulatova, Managing Partner of Alfa Law Firm.
Starting from March 1, online services will be prohibited from automatically debiting money from customers' bank cards after canceling a subscription or deleting card data. The rules will apply to online cinemas, gaming platforms, and educational courses. At the same time, the requirements will not affect food delivery services, vitamins, as well as software and AI technologies.
Airlines will also now be required to provide passengers with water if the flight is delayed by more than two hours, and hot meals after four hours. An electronic boarding pass is officially equivalent to a paper one. In addition, the law establishes the right to refund a ticket if the flight is delayed by more than 30 minutes or the carrier made a mistake when processing the documents.
In addition, owners of online cinemas and large-scale publications on social networks will be required to remove films discrediting traditional values within 24 hours at the request of Roskomnadzor. The reason for this will be the revocation of the rental certificate of the Ministry of Culture or the official conclusion of the department on the presence of prohibited materials.
In the hotel business, tourists will be allowed to check in with a driver's license or through Public Services. The new rules provide for a full refund of the prepayment upon cancellation of the reservation one day before arrival. If the customer refuses the room on the day of check-in, the hotel will be able to deduct the cost of only the first night of stay.
