In Three Months, russians Will Be Fined for Using “Anglicisms”

The rf has passed a law that effectively bans the use of foreign words in commercial activities. From March 1, 2026, businesses will not be allowed to use words that are not included in approved “standard dictionaries” in advertising, product descriptions on websites, signs, and marketplaces.

The ban automatically covers all Latin characters, as well as any “insufficiently russian” words in Cyrillic. Exceptions are only for registered trademarks or if the words are translated using the same font.

Now, “incorrect” words can be classified as a violation of the law, with fines for companies of up to 500,000 rubles. At this, the mechanism for calculating violations remains unclear, which creates additional risks for businesses.

Formally, the law supposedly “protects the russian language”. In reality, however, the state is gaining another tool for total control over language, brands, and public communication, shifting the costs of adaptation and legal risks onto entrepreneurs. russia is once again taking a big step toward isolation, manual regulation, and administrative pressure.