What laws come into force in December

From the beginning of winter, a number of laws  is about to come into force in Russia, and the most significant of which are here in our selection.

Banks will no longer be able to ‘put marks’ against the borrowers’ names 

We are talking about the marks of the borrower's consent to provide him/her with additional services in the loan agreement.  At the moment, banks can put such ‘tmarks’ on their own, however, after the entry of the law into force, the borrower will have to personally do this and decide what additional services he needs.  The norm is aimed at combating credit organizations, which automatically put down marks in the agreement on consent to additional services, thereby imposing them.  The law comes into force on December 30.

The Central Bank will have the right to block websites without judicial trial 

Now, according to the statement of the regulator, potentially dangerous Internet resources can be blocked within a few days.  This is done to suppress attempts to attack the information systems of credit and non-credit financial institutions, as well as professional participants in the securities market.  These websites may include resources imitating the Internet portals of banks and other financial organizations, as well as the websites offering participation in financial pyramids.  The decision on blocking will be made by the prosecutor's office at the request of the Central Bank.

Russians will be able to visit a number of socially significant websites for free

From the beginning of the month, Internet providers (an exception was made for satellite networks) will be required to provide free access to websites, information systems and programs that are included in the list of socially significant ones.  This means that it will be possible to get access to such Internet resources even if the balance is zero or negative.

The list already includes State services, websites of the president, government, parliament, ministries and departments, as well as regional governments.

Additionally, the list includes some delivery websites, marketplaces and even instant messengers and social networks.  It was noted that the list is not final and can be adjusted.

Blocking of ‘gray’ SIM cards comes into force 

The promised blocking of SIM cards without registration will begin on December 1.  We are talking, first of all, about corporate SIM cards, the use of which can be continued after entering the necessary information to the personal account.  In this case, the information must be transmitted by the company, but confirmed that the employee. The reverse option is also provided, when the user independently provides data about himself and the company in which the SIM card has been issued.

If the data coincide with the information available to the operator, the number will continue to work.

It is assumed that the new requirements will help in the fight against telephone fraudsters and will counter the spread of terrorism.

Foreigners arriving in Russia will have to be fingerprinted

From the end of December, a law according to which foreign citizens arriving in the territory of the Russian Federation, including for employment, will be fingerprinted and photographed, and what is more, will have to undergo a medical examination, comes into force. All this must be done within thirty days from the moment of crossing the border.  The same procedures are required in a situation of arrival in Russia for a period of 90 days or more, but without the purpose of employment.  Children under 6 years old and citizens of the Republic of Belarus are exempted from the new measures.