The State Duma’s Committee on State Construction and Legislation has recommended advancing a government bill to the second and third readings. The proposed measure would enable both companies and individual entrepreneurs to obtain documents from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities (EGRLE) in electronic form. This move aligns with a broader push toward digitizing official records and reducing the burden of paperwork for business registration processes, as reported by the Parliamentary newspaper.
The committee indicated that these readings should take place at the upcoming plenary sessions. The draft law envisages amendments to the law On State Registration of Legal Entities and Individual Entrepreneurs, opening the door for enterprises to receive electronic copies of founding documents at no charge.
The amendments were developed by the Ministry of Finance and received approval from the Council of Ministers in April. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov subsequently highlighted the anticipated reduction in administrative tasks and costs associated with obtaining copies. He stressed that electronic access to copies from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities would become a standard requirement for businesses seeking official documentation.
Siluanov also commented on contrasting views among optimistic and cautious observers, noting that the government sees clear benefits in streamlining document access and lowering compliance costs for a wide range of enterprises. The proposed changes would simplify the legal workflows for organizations by ensuring ready-to-use electronic copies that can be retrieved without the need for physical copies or in-person requests.
In practical terms, the reform aims to modernize how corporate records are shared, boost transparency, and accelerate corporate governance tasks for both domestic and international partners. Companies would benefit from faster verification of founding details, registered addresses, and authorized capital through secure electronic channels. For individual entrepreneurs, the same access would help maintain up-to-date records with minimal friction, supporting smoother interactions with tax authorities, banks, and clients. The measure aligns with broader digital government initiatives intended to improve efficiency across public administration while preserving data integrity and traceability.
Observers note that the shift to electronic copies could also influence compliance costs for small businesses, startups, and established firms operating in Canada and the United States who engage with Russian registries as part of cross-border activities. By providing cost-free electronic copies, the bill could encourage greater participation in formal registration processes and reduce the risk of errors that arise from manual handling of documents. The overall effect would be a more agile business environment where essential documents are accessible quickly and securely.
As the legislation progresses through the forthcoming plenary sessions, analysts will monitor the implementation timeline and the expected transition period for agencies and registries to fully support electronic document issuance. Supporters argue that the reforms will lay a stronger foundation for digital administration, while opponents may seek additional safeguards around data security and user verification to prevent misuse. The outcome of these debates will shape how Russian corporate records are managed in the years ahead, with potential ripple effects on international business relations and regulatory alignment.
The government’s position remains pragmatic: digitization reduces paperwork, cuts costs, and improves service delivery for legal entities and individual entrepreneurs alike. The Parliamentary newspaper emphasizes that the proposed changes reflect a practical approach to modernizing legal document access, benefiting tens of thousands of businesses and their professional partners across the region.