What are the list of unfriendly countries published by Russia?

After Russia launched "special military action" against Ukraine, some western countries, led by the United States and the European Union, launched large-scale sanctions against Russia. On March 5, local time, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order asking the Russian government to determine the list of foreign countries and regions that have committed unfriendly acts against the Russian Federation, Russian legal entities and individuals within two days.

List of unfriendly countries

According to a report by the Russian News Agency on March 7, local time, the Russian government approved the list of unfriendly countries and regions that day. The countries and regions on this list specifically include: the United States, EU member countries (all 27 countries), plus Ukraine, Britain, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Montenegro, Albania, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco and Iceland. There are 48 countries and regions in all.

RIA Novosti reported that the list of unfriendly countries and regions announced on the 7th was part of the decree of "Temporary Procedures for Performing Obligations to Certain Foreign Creditors" signed by Putin on the 5th. According to this legal document, Russian countries, enterprises and citizens are allowed to pay foreign and regional creditors in rubles to avoid default under capital control.

According to the relevant orders of the Russian government, Russian citizens, companies, countries, federal entities and municipal governments who have foreign exchange obligations to foreign creditors on the list can use rubles to make payments. The debtor has the right to ask the Russian bank to open a Class C account in the name of a foreign creditor, and transfer the money to it at the exchange rate of the Russian central bank on the day of payment. The new temporary procedure is applicable to transfers exceeding 6,543,800,000 rubles (or equivalent foreign currency) per month.

On the same day, the official website of the Russian Federation announced the order signed by Prime Minister Mishustan on the 6th, which stipulated the trading rules between sanctioned Russian enterprises and foreign enterprises. Among them, "all transactions and businesses between Russian companies and enterprises and citizens of countries and regions that are unfriendly to Russia must be approved by the Foreign Investors Supervision Committee of the Russian Federation government."

According to relevant requirements, Russian local companies or foreign enterprises listed in the list of unfriendly countries to Russia must submit trade license applications to Russia. The relevant application documents must contain the comprehensive information of the applicant, including the relevant information of the beneficiary of the company. The Committee will decide whether to approve or not. Mishustin also passed another order, which expanded the composition of the Foreign Investor Supervision Committee of the Russian Federation government to include representatives from the Russian Central Bank and the Russian President's Office.

What does it mean to be listed as "unfriendly countries and regions"?

First of all, Russia will still abide by the rules and repay the due debts of these countries and regions in Russia on schedule, but as a special "concession", only the ruble can be used.

Secondly, if the Russian patentee comes from an unfriendly country or region and his invention, utility model or industrial design is used without authorization, the compensation amount is zero, in other words, it is used casually, and the Russians do not need to make any compensation for it.

Thirdly, Russian enterprises need to obtain the approval of the federal government Committee when dealing with enterprises from unfriendly countries. China enterprises that have experienced US sanctions know what this means. Simply put, it is basically not allowed to trade with unfriendly countries and regions.