On March 7, 2022, the Russian Government approved a list of unfriendly countries (order dated 05.03.2022 No. 430-r). The document is officially called “List of foreign states and territories committing unfriendly actions against the Russian Federation, Russian legal entities and individuals.” This order was issued in pursuance of the decree of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin (clause 14 of the decree dated 05.03.2022 No. 95).

The list of countries unfriendly to Russia is a list of foreign states that commit certain actions to the detriment of the Russian Federation, its organizations and citizens. There are 49 countries on the list of unfriendly states. The full list of unfriendly foreign states currently includes:
- Australia.
- Albania.
- Andorra.
- Bahamas.
- Great Britain (including the British Crown dependencies and British Overseas Territories).
- States that are members of the EU.
- Iceland.
- Canada.
- Liechtenstein.
- Micronesia.
- Monaco.
- New Zealand.
- Norway.
- Republic of Korea.
- San Marino.
- North Macedonia.
- Singapore.
- USA.
- Taiwan (China).
- Ukraine.
- Montenegro.
- Switzerland.
- Japan.
- – Russia’s list of unfriendly states includes EU members:
- Austria,
- Belgium,
- Bulgaria,
- Hungary,
- Germany,
- Greece,
- Denmark,
- Ireland,
- Spain,
- Italy,
- Cyprus,
- Latvia,
- Lithuania,
- Luxembourg,
- Malta,
- Netherlands,
- Poland,
- Portugal,
- Romania,
- Slovakia,
- Slovenia,
- Finland,
- France,
- Croatia,
- Czech Republic,
- Sweden,
- Estonia.
What does “unfriendly country” mean? The Government Resolution on unfriendly states is part of a set of acts aimed at protecting the interests of the Russian Federation, its citizens and organizations. Thus, the following are in force:
- Federal Laws:
- dated 04.06.2018 No. 127-FZ – on measures against unfriendly actions of the USA and other states;
- dated 30.12.2006 No. 281-FZ – on special economic and coercive measures;
- dated 28.12.2010 No. 390-FZ – on security.
- Presidential Decrees:
- dated 28.02.2022 No. 79 – on the application of measures in connection with unfriendly actions of the USA, other countries and international organizations;
- dated 01.03.2022 No. 81 – on additional temporary measures to strengthen financial stability;
- from 25.04.2023 No. 302 – on temporary management of certain property belonging to foreign owners.
Law No. 127 discloses:
- What does “unfriendly country” (“unfriendly state”) mean? A foreign unfriendly state is a state that commits unfriendly actions against Russia, citizens of the Russian Federation or Russian legal entities (Part 2, Article 1 of Law No. 127).
- What are unfriendly actions? These are actions that include the introduction of political or economic sanctions, as well as actions that threaten the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation or are aimed at its economic and political destabilization.
Thus, unfriendly countries are states that have introduced political and economic sanctions against Russia or joined them, and also create various threats.
In accordance with Law No. 127 and other acts, in order to protect the interests of Russia, its citizens and organizations, the country’s leadership has the right to apply measures of influence (counteraction). For example:
- Terminate or suspend international cooperation of the Russian Federation and Russian legal entities in various sectors. For example, in the Council of Europe.
- Prohibit or restrict the import of products or raw materials from unfriendly foreign states into the country.
- Prohibit the export of products or raw materials from the Russian Federation or restrict export.
- Prohibit or restrict the participation of companies associated with unfriendly states in purchases under Federal Law 223.
- Prohibit or restrict the participation of persons associated with unfriendly states in privatization.
The measures taken by the Russian authorities apply not only directly to unfriendly foreign countries or companies from such countries, but also to persons associated with them (Article 2 of Law No. 127). The exception is if the imported goods are vital and there are no analogues in the country. Or if citizens import them for personal use.
In particular, the following have been applied to unfriendly countries:
- Transfer to trade in gas for rubles.
- Temporary ban on export of goods or export restrictions.
- Measures in the sphere of currency regulation.
- Special schemes for repaying debts to creditors from countries unfriendly to Russia.
How to open an LLC for citizens from friendly countries you can read HERE
The article was prepared by lawyers of the “GeoBuro” company on 12.08.2024.


