Russia Plans a Single Registry for Online Platforms and Marketplaces
By late 2026, Russian authorities want a public, government-run list of digital platforms—starting with the country’s largest marketplaces—to enforce new rules for the platform economy.
Russia is moving to bring online services, marketplaces, and large digital platforms under a single regulatory umbrella. The Ministry of Economic Development of Russia plans to launch a federal registry of intermediary digital platforms by November 2026. The registry will serve as an official list of platforms that connect sellers and buyers, primarily marketplaces and major online services.
The registry is being created as part of Russia’s new law on the platform economy, which is set to take effect on October 1, 2026. Its core purpose is to formally identify which digital platforms fall under the scope of the law and are therefore required to comply with its provisions.
The list will be published on the ministry’s website and will include only those services that meet criteria defined by the legislation. Among other requirements, platforms must have the technical capability to host product listings and orders and enable transactions with payment.
Platforms included in the registry will also be required to verify sellers through the government’s digital services system or official state registries before allowing them to conduct transactions. According to the office of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko, these and other mandatory rules are designed to protect the rights of both sellers and buyers, provide legal guarantees for market participants, and support the stable development of Russia’s platform economy.
Starting With the Biggest Players
At the initial stage, the registry will focus on large platforms where the majority of transactions take place. Officials at the Ministry of Economic Development say these services require regulation first, because they account for a significant share of Russia’s e-commerce activity.
Specific criteria for inclusion in the registry are being discussed in a draft government decree. They may include a platform’s daily audience, the number of partner sellers who have completed at least one transaction, and the overall volume of transactions processed.
A Tool for the State—and for Users
For regulators, the registry is intended as a practical tool for enforcing the new law. It will help both the government and businesses clearly identify which platforms are subject to regulation and ensure compliance with transparency requirements and consumer and seller protections.
For consumers, the public list will function as a verification tool, allowing users to check whether a platform operates within the legal framework and follows the established rules.
More broadly, the registry is positioned as a core element of Russia’s digital economy regulatory infrastructure—an attempt to bring a diverse and fast-growing platform sector under a single, standardized set of rules.
