Russia to Start Extrajudicial Blocking of Sites Selling Tobacco and Nicotine Products Online From March 1

Key Points

• City: Moscow, Russia

• Effective date: March 1, 2026

• Measure: Non-court blocking of websites that sell tobacco and nicotine products online

• Rationale: Faster response; reduces “domain-hopping” during lengthy court processes

• Platform duties: Websites and social networks expected to self-monitor content proactively

• Broader scope: Includes domain name security and registration rules; aligns with age-verification and digital ID tools

2Firsts, Jan 29, 2026

According to Russia’s RIA Novosti, Russia will begin extrajudicially blocking websites that sell tobacco and nicotine-containing products online from March 1, 2026. Anton Nemkin, a member of the State Duma committee on information policy and the federal coordinator of United Russia’s “Digital Russia” project, said the move is designed to strengthen digital regulation while protecting public health—particularly by cutting off online access channels that can be exploited by minors.

Nemkin argued that non-court blocking will significantly accelerate enforcement. Under the previous, court-driven process, blocking could take months—time that websites could use to switch domains and continue operating. By placing such sites directly on the prohibited information registry, authorities can respond faster, improve compliance outcomes, and reduce pressure on courts while maintaining clear, formal grounds for restricting access.

He also highlighted expanded responsibilities for website owners and social networks to monitor hosted content. The policy aims to shift enforcement from post-incident reaction to preventive oversight, encouraging platforms to take compliance more seriously. Nemkin drew a parallel with enforcement efforts targeting online alcohol sales, including on marketplaces and social platforms, which he said had demonstrated practical impact.

Beyond blocking, Nemkin said the law also addresses the stable and secure use of domain names and regulates registration procedures—an effort to make the digital infrastructure more transparent and harder to exploit through technical loopholes.

He framed the changes as part of a broader trend: tightening control over the online circulation of socially sensitive goods while simultaneously developing digital identification and age-verification tools to make enforcement more effective and rules more predictable for platforms and businesses.

Photo source:Russia’s RIA Novosti