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the courts have declared extremist. For example, reporting on the Ukrainian far-right group “Pravy Sektor” requires mentioning that this organization is “recognized as extremist” in Russia.
A draft law drawn up by Igor Stankevich and Viktor Deryabkin to create a single gambling regulator and change the system of taxation for bookmakers was approved by the Duma ​in the first reading on December 8. It calls for a change in regulations to make bookmakers accountable to a single regulator, and for betting payments to be processed by a single processing centre. It would also change the basis for the targeted deductions paid by bookmakers to sports federations: from the current 5% of revenues but no less than R15mn a quarter to 1% of accepted bets but no less than R5mn a quarter to each sports league and federation. If adopted, this legislation could have a very negative impact on QIWI's betting-related revenues, which accounted for 41% of its payment services net revenues in 2019, on our estimates. Still, there is upside risk, as QIWI could become the single payment processing partner for the entire industry (it is currently one of two). However, in any case the change in regulations would have an adverse impact on betting yields, as bookmakers would seek to optimize their costs.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed looking into the creation of a special human rights court in the country​. The idea was put forward by one of the participants in a meeting of the Council for Civil Society and Human Rights chaired by the head of state. "Your idea to create a Russian human rights court naturally needs to be explored in detail," he said. "This institution requires funding and changes to a certain system. However, in principle, the idea itself is correct."
The Netherlands’ top court ruled in December that shareholders in dismantled oil giant Yukos can continue to pursue Russia for $50bn (41bn euros) in compensation pending a final judgement ​in a long legal saga, ​The Moscow Times​ reported. Russia was ordered to make the payout in 2014 by the Hague-based international Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), but has been challenging the case ever since through Dutch courts. In a fresh blow to Moscow, the Dutch Supreme Court “dismissed the Russian Federation’s application to suspend enforcement” of the payout while the court deals with the case, it said in a statement. “The Supreme Court’s decision means that the former shareholders can continue to enforce the arbitral awards pending its final judgment,” the Dutch court said. Lawyers for both sides would argue their cases before the supreme court in early 2021, it said.
Veteran Russian reformer Anatoly Chubais will likely curate and co-ordinate state efforts to curb climate change and other pressing ESG issues​, The Bell reported citing unnamed sources. As reported by ​bne IntelliNews,​ Chubais – the man behind the country’s 1990s privatisation drive – previously headed Rosnano state nanotechnology agency, but has left his post
42 ​RUSSIA Country Report​ January 2021 ​ ​www.intellinews.com