Fines for foreign agents, MIR card capabilities and personal data protection: what will change in the life of Russians in March

In March, Russia will expand the possibilities of using the MIR card in trade aggregators. Also, fines are introduced for the dissemination of information about foreign agents and materials created by them without appropriate labeling, and the responsibility for the foreign agents themselves is toughened. In addition, the mechanism for protecting personal data of Russians is changing. On March 7, a law comes into force prohibiting the disembarkation of free-riders from public transport who travel unaccompanied by adults. About these and other innovations - in the material RT.

Expanding the use of MIR maps

Since March, the list of sites that are required to accept cards of the national payment system MIR has been expanding.

So, according to the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in the period from March 1 to June 30, 2021, sellers with an annual revenue of more than 30 million rubles must provide the opportunity to pay for their goods, works or services "using national payment instruments."

According to the innovations, it will now be possible to pay by card even in small retail outlets.

The changes will take place in two stages: from March 1, there will be an obligation to accept non-cash payments from trade and service enterprises with revenues over 30 million rubles in the previous year, from July 1 - from enterprises with a turnover of more than 20 million rubles.

These requirements apply to both retail and online stores.

The law establishes the obligation to accept only "national payment instruments" (MIR cards), but in fact, we are talking about accepting Visa and MasterCard cards.

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© Maxim Blinov

Fines for lack of marking "foreign agent"

On March 1, a law comes into force that toughens penalties for non-compliance with the law by individuals and unregistered political associations acting as foreign agents.

For natural persons-foreign agents, criminal liability is introduced for failure to submit an application for inclusion in the list of foreign agents or failure to provide activity reports.

If previously administrative responsibility has already been applied, persons can be sentenced to a similar fine and compulsory or compulsory labor for up to five years, and they also face imprisonment for the same period.

In addition, a fine of up to 300 thousand rubles or in the amount of wages or other income for a period of up to two years is imposed for malicious evasion of the duties of submitting documents required for inclusion in the register of non-profit organizations-foreign agents.

Also, the accused is threatened with executive work for up to 480 hours, or correctional labor for up to two years, or imprisonment for the same period.

The same rules apply to a foreign media outlet that is a foreign agent or a Russian legal entity established by it that acts as a foreign agent.

In addition, fines are now imposed for the dissemination of information in the media about individuals and NGOs placed on the list of foreign agents without appropriate marking: for individuals - from 2 thousand to 2.5 thousand rubles, for officials - from 4 thousand to 5 thousand rubles, for legal entities - from 40 thousand to 50 thousand rubles.

Confiscation of the subject of the offense is also allowed.

Protection of personal information

Also in March, the mechanism for protecting personal data of Russians will change.

Now it will not be possible to obtain consent to the dissemination of personal data of citizens "by default".

According to the new rules, when filling out such a document, a person himself will be able to decide which of the specified data (full name, mobile phone number, e-mail address, postal address, etc.) can be used publicly, and what remains private.

In addition, operators will be required to delete personal data at the first request of users.

"Silence or inaction under no circumstances can be considered consent to the processing of personal data permitted by the subject of personal data for dissemination," the State Duma said.

New SanPiNs

Also, since March, new sanitary and epidemiological requirements (SanPiNs) are introduced for the maintenance of urban and rural settlements, for water bodies, drinking water and drinking water supply, atmospheric air, soils, living quarters, the operation of industrial and public premises, as well as for the organization and implementation of sanitary and anti-epidemic measures.

In particular, the document spelled out the procedure for the arrangement and operation of container sites for solid municipal waste and special sites for bulky waste in settlements, as well as requirements for waste management.

It also regulates the procedure for cleaning streets, organizing beaches, parks and cemeteries.

Standards are established for the purity of atmospheric air, the quality of drinking and hot water, requirements for the design and maintenance of residential buildings, the use of pesticides, etc.

The corresponding order was signed at the end of January by the head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova.

The new sanitary rules and regulations will be in effect for six years.

At the same time, within the framework of the "regulatory guillotine", several previous SanPiNs will lose their force from March 1, 2021, and a number of previously adopted norms will be canceled from January 1, 2022.

Rules for the import of hunting weapons by foreigners

From March 9, foreign citizens will be able to import hunting weapons and cartridges into Russia only with the permission of the Russian Guard.

In addition, in accordance with the innovations, foreigners will be required to take out hunting weapons at the end of the permit.

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© Uwe Anspach

Expansion of the list of customers for complex cadastral works

From March 23, financing of the implementation of complex cadastral works will be able to be carried out at the expense of not only the budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, but also individuals and legal entities interested in performing such works.

“The innovation will allow real estate owners to save money due to the massive nature of such work in relation to a single territory, for example, to the territory of a horticultural or vegetable gardening partnership.

In addition, the likelihood of register errors is reduced, ”the State Duma press service explained.

Ban on the disembarkation of stowaway children

On March 7, a law will come into force prohibiting the disembarkation of free-riders from public transport.

From this date, a ban is established on the forced disembarkation of a stowaway under the age of 16.

It is noted that we are talking about persons traveling unaccompanied by an adult.

However, the new rules do not apply to cases of joint travel of adults with children.

If they refuse to pay for the fare, they must leave the transport at the nearest stop.

Corresponding amendments are made to the Charter of road transport and urban land electric transport and regulate the transportation of passengers in buses, trams, trolleybuses, cars and trucks.