Russia Implements New Business Difficulties

New amendments to Russian law regarding the distribution of works mentioning drugs went into effect on March 1. Publishers report difficulties applying the new requirements due to a lack of clear criteria from the Ministry of Digital Development regarding age labeling. A company stakeholder's share in a firm decreased from 52% to 8%. Literary critic Andrey Shcherbak noted that biographies of Mikhail Bulgakov and Vladimir Vysotsky may face censorship due to propaganda regulations. Publishers expressed concerns regarding the complexity of applying these new standards to existing texts. He suggested that artificial intelligence may be distributing these labels, leading to a desire to combat printed word and books. Mandatory labeling for electronic gadgets went into effect in Russia on May 1. The requirement was announced by the Honest Sign service. Market participants are now required to apply identification marks to these devices. Starting March 1, new measures were enacted in Russia to combat drugs. Books mentioning certain substances must now include necessary warnings. Political commentator Dmitry Drize believes this new regulation will create further difficulties for businesses.