Maksim Kolesnikov: “Russia’s Digital Trade Volume Has More Than Doubled”
The Russian government is developing a registry of digital platforms in collaboration with businesses and experts, aiming to strengthen consumer protection, support fair competition, and expand the global reach of Russian online services.
Russia is rapidly advancing its digital economy by building modern regulations for its key player—online platforms. A crucial step will be the creation of a national registry of digital platforms, coordinated by the Ministry of Economic Development together with business and expert communities. The registry is designed to support fair companies, safeguard consumer rights, and encourage exports of Russian digital services. This systemic effort not only strengthens the domestic market but also boosts the presence of Russian platforms abroad, where they already provide delivery, taxi, and ticketing services across multiple countries.
Digital trade is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy, reshaping employment and consumer behavior. As First Deputy Minister of Economic Development Maksim Kolesnikov noted, Russia is undergoing rapid “platformization”: over the past four years, the volume of digital trade has more than doubled.
The new law on the platform economy, which will take effect on October 1, 2026, is designed to create fair rules for all market participants. It establishes platforms’ responsibility toward consumers, introduces mandatory pretrial dispute resolution, and combats counterfeit goods.
The next key step is drafting by-laws, including the creation of the platform registry itself. This registry will determine the list of companies that must comply with the new rules.
