Russia redefines ‘drug propaganda’ and enforces ‘traditional values’ as new wave of laws come into effect
Last year, the Russian authorities enacted a slew of new laws that would take effect on March 1, 2026. Meduza shares a quick guide to the rules and regulations that came into force yesterday, and explains how they will change everyday life in Russia.
Russian first
A new law intended to “protect the Russian language” is now fully in force. From now on, any information meant for the general public, such as shop signs and city navigation signs, must be in Russian. Trademarks and registered brand names are exempt, so brands like Rostic’s (Russia’s answer to KFC) can keep their Latin lettering.
Information on signage can be duplicated in other languages, but Russian has to come first. At the same time, names of new residential complexes must now use only the Cyrillic alphabet — though the words themselves don’t have to be Russian.
Lawmakers scrapped the bill’s early drafts, which were more restrictive. Still, hundreds of thousands of businesses may have to tweak their names, redo their signage, or reprint materials. Fines for ignoring the rules can reach 500,000 rubles ($6,442).
Tighter media supervision
Amendments to media and film legislation give the authorities new tools to police “traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.” Streaming platforms and social networks are now banned from hosting works that “discredit” or “promote rejecting” those values.
The Culture Ministry can deny or revoke distribution licenses on the same grounds. If a license is pulled, federal censorship agency Roskomnadzor will order platforms to take the content down with 24 hours. What exactly counts as “discrediting” remains open to interpretation.
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‘Drug propaganda’ redefined
Russia’s definition of “drug propaganda” just got much broader. It now covers not only promoting drug use, but also describing its “permissibility,” “attractiveness,” or supposed “advantages,” as well as justifying other illegal drug-related actions or portraying them as normal behavior.
There’s still an exception for literature and art where drug references are an “integral part of the artistic concept.” But such works must now carry warnings about the harms of drugs (unless they were published before August 1, 1990). And the exception doesn’t cover all of the newly added provisions. In recent weeks, musicians — especially rappers — have hurried to rewrite lyrics and remove older tracks from streaming services.
No passport? Use an app instead.
New hotel rules are now in effect. If Russians forget their passport or drivers license, they can now legally verify their identities through the government services portal Gosuslugi or the state messenger app Max (though hotel owners are allowed to refuse these options).
Other changes: if you cancel before the day of arrival, you’re entitled to a full refund of your prepayment. Hotels, meanwhile, can cancel your booking unilaterally — as long as they compensate you for your losses.
Flight delayed? Here’s your snack schedule.
One of the new laws clarifies airline passenger rights. For one thing, electronic boarding passes are now officially equivalent to paper ones. And the rules now spell out when airlines owe you water, food, and a hotel room. The updated regulations also clarify when you’re entitled to a forced ticket refund — including delays of more than 30 minutes, early departure, illness of a close relative, or a ticketing mistake by the airline.
Biometric barrier for online payday loans
From March 1, microfinance companies must use biometric identification for online loans. In-person borrowers are exempt.
The official goal is to fight fraud: if you can’t provide biometrics, you can’t get a loan in your name. But industry experts say the country’s Unified Biometric System doesn’t have enough data. As a result, 14–15 million people could effectively lose access to payday loans.
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No domain names without ID verification
You can no longer register a domain name in Russia without verifying your identity through Gosuslugi’s authentication system. Registrars are now barred from issuing domains to anyone who hasn’t gone through the verification process.
No more psychiatric screenings for security clearance
The Health Ministry has removed work with classified information from the list of activities requiring mandatory psychiatric screening. Previously, a medical commission could declare someone temporarily unfit to work with state secrets for up to five years because of a mental disorder. That requirement is now gone, though the ministry has not explained why.
Energy drink ads get a warning label
Advertisements for energy drinks must now include a warning about the harms of excessive consumption. On the radio, it has to last at least three seconds, while in video ads, it has to be at least five seconds and take up no less than seven percent of the frame. In other formats, the warning must also occupy at least seven percent of the ad space.
Meduza
Cover photo: Alexander Nemenov / AFP / Scanpix / LETA