What changes await the Russians in March?

Residents of the new Russian regions – Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions – will be able to use social support according to the standards of the Russian Federation, drivers with a criminal record will be banned from working in public transport and taxis, those who were temporarily absent will not have to pay for garbage, there will be new grounds for deprivation of real estate, prescription drugs will start selling online – here are some of the innovations that await the Russians in March.

Pensions and benefits for the annexed regions

From March 1, residents of new Russian regions – Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions – will be able to use social support according to the standards of the Russian Federation: free medical care, pensions and payments for children, allowances and benefits. Pensions to residents of new regions will also be assigned according to Russian standards, the recalculation will affect more than one and a half million people. It is expected that this year about 16 billion rubles will be allocated for monthly payments to privileged categories of citizens. At the same time, more than 90 billion will be allocated for child benefits, and about 4.5 billion for compensation for housing and communal services.

Drivers with a criminal record will be banned from working in public transport and taxis

From March 1, persons with an unexpunged or outstanding conviction, as well as those who are prosecuted for crimes of medium gravity, grave and especially grave crimes, will not be able to work as drivers of taxis and other public transport.

Persons who have an outstanding or unexpunged conviction or are subject to criminal prosecution for crimes against peace, against the foundations of the constitutional order and state security and for crimes against public safety are not allowed to drive trolleybuses, trams and buses. In this case, we are talking about serious and especially serious crimes. The restrictions apply to Russians and foreigners who have citizenship of the EAEU member states. Employment contracts with employees who do not provide the employer with a certificate of no criminal record by September 1, 2023 will be terminated.

Temporarily absent will not have to pay for garbage

On March 1, a decree of the government of the Russian Federation comes into force, which will allow the recalculation of fees for the removal of municipal solid waste in the temporary absence of the owner. Thus, if the tenant was absent from home for more than five days, not counting the day of departure and arrival, he can apply to the management company for a recalculation with a corresponding application. Evidence of absence must be attached to the document, for example, a ticket or a voucher.

Data about property owners will be protected

From March 1, extracts from the Unified State Register of Real Estate (EGRN) will no longer indicate the last name, first name and patronymic of the owner. Rosreestr will not disclose information about the owners if third parties order the extract. Now this information will be available only with the consent of the owners of the objects. At the same time, spouses, employees of a number of government agencies and notaries will retain access to information.

These innovations do not apply to real estate owners who are legal entities – information about them will continue to be publicly available and will be indicated in extracts from the USRN.

There will be new grounds for deprivation of real estate

According to the amendments to the Civil Code, which come into force on March 1, there are two new grounds for depriving the owner of real estate, including separate premises and parking spaces. Firstly, you can lose real estate when using space for other purposes, if this leads to a systematic violation of the rights and interests of neighbors. For example, if the apartment on the ground floor is used as a shop, cafe, beauty salon, mini-hotel, and so on. The second reason is mismanagement, leading to the destruction of the premises and parking spaces.

Excise taxes on cigarettes and vape liquids

From March 1, 2023, excise taxes on tobacco products and liquids for electronic cigarettes will increase. The relevant Federal Law was signed by the President of the Russian Federation at the end of January this year. According to the document, the excise tax on cigarettes and cigarettes from the beginning of the month to the end of the year is increased by 2%, to 2,603 ​​rubles per thousand pieces plus 16% of the estimated cost calculated based on the maximum retail price, but not less than 3,536 rubles for 1 thousand pieces (for comparison: now – 2 thousand 552 rubles per thousand pieces plus 16% of the estimated cost calculated based on the maximum retail price, but not less than 3 thousand 467 rubles per thousand pieces). The previously established increase schedule for the next two years was also revised.

In addition to ordinary cigarettes, the increase will also affect products intended for consumption by heating, in this case the rate will be 8,669 rubles per 1 kg (against the current 7,839 rubles per 1 kg). Simultaneously with the increase in excise taxes, the law reforms the system for levying excise taxes on electronic nicotine delivery systems and abolishes the tax on the systems themselves. Now it will be charged only for the liquid contained in them.

The single minimum price for cigarettes will increase

From March 1, 2023, tobacco products cannot cost less than 119 rubles in stores. Following an extraordinary increase in excise taxes on cigarettes, the Ministry of Agriculture raised the unified minimum price for tobacco products by 2 rubles. The new price will be valid until the end of the year. The unified minimum price is calculated on the basis of the minimum excise rate for 1,000 cigarettes and cigarettes, the VAT rate and a multiplying factor of 1.4. Since excise rates on cigarettes and cigarettes in Russia will increase by 2% from March 1, the single minimum price will also increase.

Prescription drugs will be sold online

On March 1, Russia will begin an experiment on the sale of prescription drugs via the Internet. It will be held in Moscow, Moscow and Belgorod regions until 2026. Under the new law, pharmacies in these regions will be able to sell prescription drugs from a special list. It does not include preparations, for example, containing narcotic, psychotropic, potent or poisonous substances; with storage temperature below 15°C; containing more than 25% ethanol by volume; antipsychotics, antidepressants, hypnotics, sedatives. Pharmacies will ensure that medicines are delivered directly to the owner of the prescription or the person authorized by him. The buyer will be required to provide the courier with a passport and sign the document on receipt of the drugs.

Prepared by Sergey Ishkov.

Photo by Andrey FYODOROV