From a ban on Norwegian fish imports to protection against ATM fraud, here are a few picks from the laws that came into effect on Jan. 1, 2014.
1. A ban on unlicensed SIM card sales.
The law, intended to reduce scams and improve security, requires cell phone stores and SIM card vendors to list the customer's passport data in a sales contract, and bans unlicensed private peddlers from selling SIM cards in street kiosks.
This man could see his sales increase as a result of the ban. ( Pascal Dumont / For MT)
Depending on the type of offense, violators will be punished by fines ranging from a minimum of 2,000 rubles ($61) for private individuals to up to 200,000 rubles for companies.
According to official statistics, nearly two-thirds of all false bomb threats are made from cell phones, most of which were bought without a proper contract and under a fake name, Itar-Tass reported.
A study by newspaper Vedomosti conducted in 2013 concluded SIM cards sold from portable kiosks concentrated around train stations and tourist areas account for up to 15 percent of all mobile subscriptions sold in Russia annually.
2. An increase in luxury car taxes.
Lovers of luxury cars will be facing an even higher price tag this year. ( Pascal Dumont / For MT)
Cars that are worth more than 3 million rubles, will now be taxed at between 1.1 and three times the current rate. The largest increases will apply to cars that cost between 10 and 15 million rubles and are no more than 10 years old, and to cars that cost more than 15 million rubles and are no more than 20 years old. The tax rate will triple for those vehicles.
Luxury cars have also become the target of a separate bill intended to curb public officials' taste for luxury rides. The measure gained force after opposition activist Alexei Navalny secured 100,000 online votes in favor of a proposal to ban state and government officials from buying cars with a worth exceeding 1.5 million rubles ($45,500).
3. An increase in the minimum wage.
A Forbes list of the top 10 cities with the billionaires in 2013, put Moscow in first place. ( Pascal Dumont / For MT)
While the rich may have to pay a bit more for their rides, the poor may get a little more for their work. On Jan. 1, the minimum wage rose to 12,600 rubles in Moscow and to 5,554 rubles around the country.
The previous increase in July raised the Moscow minimum wage to 12,200 rubles from 11,700 rubles, and a further raise by 250 rubles is planned for July 2014.
Moscow residents are among the highest earning employees in the country, with monthly wages in the city at about 57,000 rubles, although most city dwellers earn significantly less than that amount.
4. Tighter control over bank transactions.
Officials hope no transaction will go unnoticed as of Jan. 1, 2014. ( Pascal Dumont / For MT)
Banks are now required to notify their customers of all ATM card transactions conducted online or over text messages. Banks will also have to compensate their clients for money lost to credit or debit card fraud, provided that the client alerts the bank within 24 hours.
5. Stricter measures for school buses.
Whether the safer traffic rules will enhance the enjoyment of the children on board is unknown.( Pascal Dumont / For TMT)
The amendment to traffic rules requires buses that carry eight or more children on school tours or other organized trips to be marked by a "Children on Board" sign, and tightens technical safety requirements.
On longer trips, lasting more than three hours, buses also must be stocked up with food for the children and have a nurse of a doctor on board. No school trips may be scheduled for night time between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., except on short legs to take the children to or from a railway station or an airport, or to complete a trip that ran behind schedule because of unforeseen delays.
Another part of the bill, which says that only buses less than 10 years old may be used for carrying children on organized tours, will come into effect later this year.
In one of the most tragic road accidents over the past year, a collision between a truck and bus killed 18 people, including one child, and injured at least two more children in the village of Oznobishino, [near the town of Podolsk] outside Moscow in July.
6. A partial ban on the import of Norwegian fish.
Norwegian salmon has been spared the harsh measures. For now. ( Pascal Dumont / For MT)
Fish may be part of the Russians' traditional New Year's Eve menu, but Norwegian fish, except salmon, is banned starting on New Year's Day.
The ban, follows a series of spats between Russian and Norwegian sanitary watchdog agencies and exempts 29 companies that received Russian inspectors' approval.
Salmon could also be banned soon, veterinary service spokesman Alexei Alekseyenko warned.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
