Laws in Russia
How Russia is classified on 40 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Legal on request Abortion is available on request, subject to a gestational limit.
- Euthanasia
- Illegal Euthanasia is explicitly banned by Federal Law No.323, although specific penalties for the act are not detailed.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- FGM Laws
- No specific ban There is no FGM-specific law; only general criminal provisions could apply.
- Surrogacy
- Commercial legal Commercial gestational surrogacy is legal and available to adults with medical indications.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Banking ban / restricted Cryptocurrency is legal to hold but banks are barred from handling it.
- Online Gambling
- Illegal Online gambling is completely prohibited by Russian legislation.
Daily Life
- Jaywalking
- Offense / fined Jaywalking is an offence subject to fines.
- Drinking in Public
- Illegal Public drinking is banned in nearly all public spaces.
- Public Smoking Bans
- Comprehensive ban Smoking is banned in all indoor public places, workplaces, and restaurants nationwide since July 2014.
- Driving Age
- 18+ Minimum age to drive a car: 18.
- Homeschooling
- Legal Homeschooling is legal.
Animals & Environment
- Dog Meat
- Legal / not prohibited Dog meat consumption is legal in Russia.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 18 The voting age is 18.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- 14–15 Minimum working age: 14.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not recognized Same-sex unions have no legal recognition, and marriage is constitutionally or statutorily barred.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Illegal Same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offence.
- Age of Consent
- 16–17 The age of consent is 16.
- Sex Work
- Illegal Selling sex is an administrative offense punishable by fines, while organizing it is a criminal offense.
- Pornography
- Illegal Russia prohibits the illegal making, distribution, and public demonstration of pornographic materials.
- Divorce
- Legal Divorce is legal and generally available, including unilaterally without fault.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.
- Incest Laws
- Legal between adults
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Blasphemy Laws
- Criminal offense Russia criminalizes public actions offending religious feelings with potential prison sentences.
- Holocaust Denial
- Criminal offense Holocaust denial is a criminal offence.
- Flag Desecration
- Criminal offense Desecrating the national flag is a criminal offense punishable by up to one year of imprisonment.
- Conversion Therapy
- No ban No legal ban on conversion therapy.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Not used in practice Retained in law, but not used for at least ten years.
- Gun Laws
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned Russian law explicitly prohibits the use of physical violence against students.
- Military Conscription
- Active conscription
Substances
- Cannabis
- Illegal Cannabis is illegal for all purposes.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Illegal Psilocybin is a controlled substance; possession is a criminal offence.
- Salvia Divinorum
- Legal / unregulated Salvia divinorum is legal or unregulated.
- E-Cigarettes
- Regulated E-cigarettes are legal but nicotine strength is capped by law.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.