Russia’s government is suspending routine state inspections of companies whose property has been damaged in Ukrainian attacks, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko said Monday, describing the temporary measure as a way to reduce bureaucratic red tape during recovery efforts.
The moratorium, which takes effect Monday and will remain in place until Oct. 1, 2027, is “aimed at reducing the administrative burden on businesses and supporting firms that are currently restoring facilities targeted in strikes,” Interfax quoted Grigorenko as saying.
Russian companies are subject to regular and often intrusive inspections from various government agencies, including fire safety, labor, consumer protection and tax authorities.
Under the new rules, companies rebuilding after attacks remain exempt from planned inspections, though emergency audits can still be triggered by an executive order, prosecutorial requests or concerns based on national security and public health.
The move follows comments from President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, who criticized subjecting businesses receiving emergency government support to aggressive regulatory oversight as “harmful and pointless.” It also builds on a one-year tax deferral granted last month to Russia’s largest online retailer Wildberries and sellers who use the platform.
However, the administrative reprieve also comes alongside growing state pressure on companies. In August, Putin signed an executive order allowing the government to seize companies and critical infrastructure if owners fail to properly protect their properties against drone attacks or delay repairs.
Over the weekend, the Russian government reportedly moved to invoke that authority to place one of Moscow’s largest gas station chains under temporary state control.
