Buy the latest iPhone model in a market where Russia has no value. On the contrary, the brand is not officially present there, so it does not sell its products through standard channels. They show up in many electronics stores, and there is no need to hunt in hidden spots or luxury enclaves for the Moscow jet set. Of course, those who want to indulge must pay up to 1,600 euros, far more than in Spain, and this means the shop adds the extra cost for the journey the device makes. In every store in Moscow, the clerk may claim ignorance about the origin, yet insist they have everything one would expect from a new device and a warranty, simply noting that some iPhone applications might be unavailable.
The fate of the popular Apple phone mirrors a broader trend. Although some stores vanish from shopping centers as brands like Zara and Lego withdraw, new outlets carrying the same products open under similar formats, as allowed by Russian law.
Thanks to a standard approved in 2022, Moscow permits the import of goods without explicit permission from the manufacturer or brand owner. This legal framework explains why the Russian market can see Mercedes cars, Zara apparel, or Ikea furniture. The approach has even touched cinema, with some theaters showing pirated versions of films like Batman or Avatar 2, and other titles arriving intermittently in the Eurasian country.
Turkey and Iran
Russia maintains an official list of brands involved in parallel imports, ensuring that companies can bring in products obtained legally in their origin country, provided they have exited the Russian market. Turkey plays a key role in this network, with Iran also occupying an important position.
Western observers do not overlook this parallel trade. Vladislav Inozemtsev, director of a research center, notes that Turkey briefly reduced smuggling due to U.S. pressure. Yet traffic resumed, aided by Istanbul’s interests related to grain talks. The grain deal allows Ankara to justify its openness to parallel imports, and Moscow initially resisted blocking Turkey as a transit route.
Still, this approach is not a cure-all and cannot meet every need. Anonymous medical sources report that medicines for rare diseases do not always reach Russia through official channels. They also point out that some research chemicals arrive in droppers, slowing or halting parts of scientific work. Aviation sanctions compound the problem, cutting many international connections and forcing Russian firms to reuse available aircraft parts as spares.
Belarusian Gate
As early as 2014, sanctions followed Russia’s annexation of Crimea, which many in the international community regard as part of Ukraine, and restrictions touched some EU food products. A workaround exists where Belarusian companies import goods into Belarus under local labels and resell them to Russia. This practice is widely known among Russian citizens, who appreciate oysters and salmon labeled as coming from Belarus, a landlocked country.
Today Minsk has broadened its offerings, selling tours to its territory for Russian travelers who want to shop at Western brands that left Russia but still operate in Belarus. Travelers can use their national passport, equivalent to a domestic ID, for these shopping trips. Promotional materials highlight the possibility of using MasterCard or Visa cards issued outside Russia. Current sanctions have affected the Russian financial system, limiting access to many international payment networks and services.