news and resources

News

Last updated: 16.07.2010

I do realise that visitors looking for useful information on this website would like to see some examples of my recent cases. Here are a few typical issues I have advised my clients in the past:                      

• Entering the Russian market, GOST & Russian Ministry of Health certification and registration of medical device and equipment for a manufacturer and supplier of infection control products. 

• Obtaining commercial credit  for purchasing a land and subsequent  hotel building at the seaside resort in the Kaliningrad region, development company.

• Application of Russian law to End-User Software Licence Contract for a company delivering software solutions for pharmaceutical industry.

• Resolution of Complexity in existing rules for organisation and registration of sweepstakes in Russia, for sales promotion agency.

• Following necessary terms and conditions in the process of registration of reversed auction bidding in Russia, internet auction company.

• Agreement on employment of company’s Russian contractor for research, development and programming of software products, hotel reservation software company.

• Methods of "Invention" patenting in Russia for inventions development company; due diligence services related to their partner company from Russia; drafting and translation of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement.

• Enforcement of agency agreement and resolution of dispute with Russian customer, creative design consultancy.

• Market and industry research and analysis in Kaliningrad region; setting up a company to deal with the packing of food supplements in the Special economic zone (SEZ) in the Kaliningrad, rental of premises for company production, employment of 10 persons staff, customs clearance and certification of production, producer of food supplements.

Open Dialogue - a training programme for lawyers from the Kaliningrad region of Russia continues

The third stage of the programme has been successfully completed in Kaliningrad, supported by Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Russia, Global Opportunity Fund Sustainable Development Programme. 40 representatives of legal system of the Kaliningrad region (judges, investigators and barristers) were trained in mixed groups.Two seminar courses, were organized by the Kaliningrad Resource Informational Analytical Centre (RIAC) and held in April 15-19 and May 4-8, 2009 in Svetlogorsk, Kaliningrad region, Hotel "Baltika".      

The European Standards of Human Rights and Public Justice in the Russian Federation - international conference

I was recently involved in planning and development of international conference – “The European Standards of Human Rights and Public Justice in the Russian Federation, innovation methods in the legal practice of the Kaliningrad region”, financed by Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Russia. Conference was held in November 27 - 28, 2008, hotel Heliopark Kaiserhof, Kaliningrad and attracted lawyers representing Supreme and Constitutional Courts of the Russian Federation, Russian Parliament, Human Rights Ombudsman of the Russian Federation, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Embassies, University of Nottingham Human Rights Law Centre, General Prosecutor Office, Federal and Regional Courts, Militias and Bar Associations. photo  

Open Dialogue - a training programme for lawyers from the Kaliningrad region of Russia

I finished management of the second stage of the programme “Open Dialogue” – a training programme for lawyers from the Kaliningrad region of Russia in European human rights standards. In December 17 - 23, 2007 Russian delegation visited the University of Nottingham Human Rights Law Centre and met representatives of the British criminal justice system, including the Magistrates Court and Crown Court, Crown Prosecution Service, Barristers, Victim and Witness Protection and the Police. photo

The first stage of the programme was previously successfully completed in Kaliningrad, supported by Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Russia, Global Opportunity Fund Sustainable Development Programme and provided an intensive training from March - June 2007. It consisted of a number of seminar courses, organized by the Kaliningrad Resource Informational Analytical Centre (RIAC), providing human rights training for practicing lawyers representing the Courts of General Jurisdiction, Military Courts, Militias and Bar Associations on European standards of human rights. .....›  

Why it is worth making investments in Kaliningrad

The Kaliningrad region is the most western region, separated from the mainland of the Russian Federation. Due to its geographical and political location, especially after Poland’s and Lithuania’s joining the EU, the Kaliningrad region is gaining a new challenge of extending and developing co-operation with the European countries in various fields, first and foremost, in economics. This site of Kaliningrad City Hall give you very useful  economic and legal information on investment environment in this region.

Adoption in Kaliningrad

Recently I have received a large number of queries about adopting children from Kaliningrad and Russia in general and decided to try and help people hoping to adopt.  The following article translated into English gives you some background information on adoption in Kaliningrad and I am happy to help directly should you wish to commission my professional support. I can help with translation of documents through to full legal support with my partners in Russia. I can help guide you through the whole process as Russian legislation on adoption from abroad is complicated and you will need an English speaking Russian on your side......›  

Information      

Main Taxes Rates in Russia

Paying taxes in Russia for foreign/British residents

When you come to live or work in Russia, the Russian tax you'll pay depends on whether you have “resident” or “non-resident” status over there. Residents and non-residents paying taxes in case they receive income from the sources on the territory of the Russian Federation. Foreign citizen can be a tax resident of the Russian Federation if he resides on the territory of the Russian Federation not less than 183 days of the calendar year. Tax rates for residents and not residents are different. 13 % is for income received by tax residents; and 30 % is for income received by tax non-residents on the territory of the Russian Federation. An individual who is a non-resident of the Russian Federation may be exempt from taxation by Russian tax authorities, provided that he introduces (forwards) to Russian tax authorities an official confirmation that he is a resident of the state that has double taxation treaty with the Russian Federation. Russia and U.K. has double taxation treaty from 1994 No. 3213. Thanks to that you can decide where you want to pay your taxes in Russia or in U.K.

Law "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation" (Russian language) /  Закон "О правовом положении иностранных граждан в Российской Федерации" (с изменениями на 19 мая 2010 года)                                      

Defines the legal status of foreigners in the Russian Federation, and regulates conditions of their entry into and exit from Russia. It regulates relations between foreigners and state and local authorities in connection with the foreigner's temporary or permanent stay in Russia, including those related to foreigners' employment, commercial and other activities in Russia. Download

Travel rights for non-EU national family members of EU/UK citizens within the European Union

Neither the UK nor other EU countries such as Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Ireland, Cyprus, Slovenia, and Malta are currently signatories of the Schengen agreement that means in order to travel to another EU country members of the family of an EU/UK citizen should be required to obtain a visa. Such visas, where they are necessary, should be granted free of charge, and without undue formalities. This facilitated system of obtaining a visa will apply to non-EU national family members, however, only when they travel with an EU citizen.  Download

Right of admission foreign/Russian spouse of a British national to the UK without the need to obtain entry clearance

In the case of a British national spouse/partner have been lawfully resident in the other EEA country before applying to enter the UK - it is not needed to obtain entry clearance. More detailed explanation of European law further.

Kaliningrad Visas                                                                             

Kaliningrad operates a special visa system which allows visas to be issued at the border on arrival, thus avoiding Russian embassies abroad and complicated visa forms.  The short-term tourist visas (for stays of up to 72 hours on the territory of Kaliningrad oblast only) to foreign tourists (citizens of countries of the Schengen Treaty, the United Kingdom, Japan) on requests of Kaliningrad tourist agencies, that are registered for consular services at the Representative Office of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and have the right to issue short-term visas, but not later than 48 hours prior to a supposed entry of a foreign tourist. From January 2009 visas also can be extended for period of up to 3 days at the border check points. Download 

Main Taxes and Duties Rates in the Kaliningrad region Download

Certificate of Origin in the Kaliningrad Special Economic Zone 

This is a new process of obtaining Kaliningrad certificate of origin in correspondence with "Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 171 of March 30, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Use of Criteria of Enough Processing and Issue of Appropriate Certificates for the Products of Processing of Commodities Imported under the Customs Regime of Free Customs Zone Applied in the Kaliningrad Region". Document contains an application form and list of documents which is necessary to submit while application process to Kaliningrad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Download

Russian import duties                                                                                               

Find out the import duty for your product is possible in the "Applied Tariffs Database" of free European Union Market Access Database

Law on the special economic zone in the Kaliningrad region.

The new Federal law "On the Special economic zone (SEZ) in the Kaliningrad region" came into force on 1 April 2006. Under that law the new zone will be operational for 25 years. In the first six years entities will be exempt from the profit tax 100%, and they will enjoy 50% discount in profit taxes for another six years. In addition, investors will be exempt from the tax on organizations’ property for the first six years of their projects. But this is only for investors who bring at least one hundred and fifty million rubles of investment. They won’t have to pay customs duties on commodities brought to Kaliningrad for production purposes, as long as the commodities keep within the regional limits. Visa formalities will be reduced for investors. Companies which are registered before the law came into force have a ten-year long transition period and can use the old privileges. Privileges for them means that goods, manufactured in the Special economic zone (the fact that is verified by the certificate on the goods origin) and exported to the other countries and the Russian Federation, are exempt from Customs duties and other charges while going through the Customs and being cleared (except the Customs fees for drawing up the Customs clearance papers). Download

On submission of an investment declaration for SEZ resident

According to the Law № 16-FL “On the Special economic zone in the Kaliningrad region which come into force on 1 April 2006 the Government of the Kaliningrad region has approved a special form of an investment declaration for SEZ resident.

Now, with coming into force of the new law on SEZ, applicants for inclusion in the Register of residents of the Special economic zone in the Kaliningrad region should prepare and submit the following documents:

·        an application in the free form, addressed to the Head of the Administration of Special economic zone (Minister of Economics of the Kaliningrad region  F.F.Lapin) on inclusion of the legal person into register;

·        copies of legal person’s foundation papers, certified by a notary;

·        a certified copy of the document, attesting that the legal person has been entered in the general State register of legal persons;

·        the certificate of registration by the tax authority;

·      the investment declaration page 1  page 2

·        the business - plan of investment project.

This package of documents can be sent by mail to the address: 236007, Kaliningrad, Dmitry Donskoy street 1 or be brought into the reception office of Ministry of Economics of the Kaliningrad region (within working day) office 428 (phone: 599 024).

Civil Code of the Russian Federation (Part One)

Part I of the Civil Code upholds such rights as the rights to own and inherit property; to engage in entrepreneurial activity; to establish independent legal entities; and the protection of intellectual property rights. Part I also defines concepts such as securities, contractual rights, and the power of attorney. Download

Civil Code of the Russian Federation (Part Two)

Part II of the Civil Code further expands on these new civil relationships, and contains provisions governing certain types of agreements and the rights to sign contracts, to rent property, to receive loans, and to be compensated for injury. Download

Map of Europe with the Baltic Sea Countries and Kaliningrad

to download the great map click here

Detailed Kaliningrad Region Map Download 

Detailed Kaliningrad Town Map Download

Useful Links

www.russiatoday.ru - The Russia Today TV news channel - which broadcasts in English 24 hours a day  to  Europe, North America, Asia and Africa

www.rusemblon.org - The Consular Department of the Russian Embassy

www.ukinrussia.fco.gov.uk -  British Embassy, Consulates, UK Trade and Investment Section in Russia

www.rustradeuk.org - The Trade Delegation of the Russian Federation

www.diligencellc.com - Diligence - leading business intelligence, research and analysis firm on Russian and Eastern European markets

www.kaliningrad.mid.ru - Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kaliningrad

www.rosoez.ru - Russian Federal Agency for the Special Economic Zones

www.kaliningrad-cci.ru - Kaliningrad Chamber of Commerce and Industry

www.kaliningradse.ru - Kaliningrad International Stock Exchange

www.riac.org.ru - Kaliningrad Resource Informational Analytical Centre (RIAC)

www.spbcci.ru - St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry

www.mtpp.org - Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry

www.cci.lt - Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Crafts

www.unitedpartners.ee - United Partners, one of my partners organisations,  a rapidly developing Baltic investment bank

www.lawguru.com - Legal Knowledge and Attorneys Database

www.lawru.com - International network of experienced Russian lawyers and consultants

www.chukotka.org - Chukot Autonomous Okrug Administration website with former Governor Roman Abramovich (now Chukotka Autonomous Okrug Duma Deputy (quite interesting), and more information is here