The Government of the Russian Federation has moved to lighten the load on entrepreneurs by approving a legislative bill aimed at trimming administrative burdens. This development was confirmed by the Cabinet’s official communication and reflects a broader effort to streamline the regulatory environment for small and medium-sized enterprises. The draft federal law, titled “On Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation,” is prepared for submission to the State Duma in the customary sequence, signaling a formal step toward reducing duplicative or excessive oversight measures that entrepreneurs have long faced. The move is part of a measured approach to balance compliance with growth, recognizing that a more predictable and proportionate enforcement framework can foster investment and innovation while preserving public interests.
In a further step, on November 9 the Cabinet approved a bill that targets the multiplication of powers by police, control, and supervisory authorities. The intention is to assign oversight activities to the appropriate specialized units, ensuring that checks and inspections are conducted by the entities best equipped to handle them. Dmitry Grigorenko, the head of the government apparatus, commented on the Cabinet’s website that the initial phase of the reform will remove 46 provisions from the Code on Administrative Violations that were seen as expanding authorities beyond necessity. This revision aims to reduce redundancy and minimize unnecessary confrontation between enforcement bodies and business operators, while maintaining the ability to address legitimate violations.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin emphasized a shift in policy toward prevention over punishment. He asserted that while it is not feasible to eliminate checks entirely, the frequency and intrusiveness of regulatory scrutiny should be curtailed to create a more stable operating environment for business. The emphasis on prevention underscores a strategic transition from reactive enforcement toward proactive risk-based monitoring, where compliance costs are weighed against the potential benefits of a well-functioning market.
Additionally, President Vladimir Putin directed the Government and the Prosecutor General’s Office to reduce punitive actions against business representatives for infractions flagged by supervisory authorities. This directive reinforces a framework that favors proportional responses and constructive oversight, aligning penalties with the severity of violations and the context in which they occur. The overarching aim is to protect legitimate business activity from undue penalties while preserving the authority of regulatory bodies to uphold standards. The cumulative effect of these measures is to enhance the clarity of administrative rules, improve the predictability of enforcement, and ultimately support a more favorable climate for entrepreneurship in Russia while safeguarding public interests.