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Russia’s Association of Internet Trade Companies has asked Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to create emergency rules for retailers during major outages in state information systems. Its proposals include delayed data submissions without penalties and temporary permission to store and process Russians’ personal data in “friendly” countries. The government ministries involved said the letter would be reviewed; no approval has been announced.
Russia’s Association of Internet Trade Companies (AKIT) has asked Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to establish emergency rules for retailers during mass outages in state information systems, according to the business daily Kommersant, as reported by Meduza on October 20. The proposal would let sellers submit stored data after systems return, avoid penalties for missed reporting deadlines during an emergency, and temporarily store and process personal data in “friendly” countries.
AKIT’s proposal is set out in a letter to Mishustin. The association says retailers should be able to record information they cannot transmit on time and send it once the affected infrastructure is working again. It also calls for backup data-transmission methods and protection from penalties for deadline breaches while an “emergency mode” is in force.
The letter also seeks a temporary exception to Russia’s current rules requiring Russians’ personal data to be processed and stored inside the country. AKIT wants businesses to be allowed to store and process that data in countries it describes as “friendly.” The report does not identify which countries the association has in mind or explain the proposed scope and duration of such an exception.
AKIT prepared the letter after Ukrainian drones struck data centers belonging to Yandex and Sberbank. The association said the attacks did not cause major retail disruptions at the time, but argued that rules should be ready for a future force majeure. Rusprodsoyuz, an association representing major food producers, told Kommersant that isolated outages had occurred, prompting some companies to stop work and switch to paper records.
How Outages Could Affect Retail
Retailers depend on functioning information systems to transmit required data and keep operations running. If a state system becomes unavailable, businesses may face a choice between missing reporting deadlines and trying to work without normal digital services. AKIT’s proposals aim to create a defined procedure for that situation: keep records locally, transmit them later, and use alternative channels where possible.
The request also highlights a tension between business continuity and domestic data-storage requirements. Temporary overseas storage could provide another option during a serious disruption, but it would require a change to existing rules and raises questions about which data could move, where it could be held, and how long an exception would last. These are proposals, not policy changes: the report confirms no government decision to adopt them.
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The Data Center Attacks Behind the Request
AKIT’s letter followed drone strikes on data centers associated with Yandex and Sberbank. According to the association’s account reported by Kommersant, those incidents did not lead to major disruption in retail. Its argument is instead that a legal and operational framework should be in place in case future damage causes wider or longer-lasting outages.
Rusprodsoyuz described a more limited impact: it said some companies had experienced isolated interruptions, halted operations, and relied on paper records. The source report does not give dates, locations, the number of affected companies, or details on how long the interruptions lasted. AKIT’s letter reportedly contains other proposals as well, but the association did not disclose them.
“Retailers should be able to record data they cannot transmit promptly and send it once the infrastructure is restored.”
— AKIT, as described in the letter reported by Kommersant
What the Government Has Yet to Decide
The ministries’ response does not indicate whether the government will adopt any of AKIT’s requests, when a decision might come, or whether the proposal will be revised. The report gives no timetable for the review. It also does not set out the proposed trigger for declaring an “emergency mode,” who would make that determination, how long it would last, or which retailers and reporting obligations would be covered.
The details of the proposed overseas data exception remain unclear, including which destinations would qualify as “friendly,” what safeguards would apply, and whether the exception would cover all personal data or only specified categories. The source also does not identify the other proposals included in the letter. The extent and duration of the outages reported by Rusprodsoyuz are not specified.
The Ministries’ Review Comes Next
The next confirmed step is the review of AKIT’s letter by the Economy Ministry and Finance Ministry, which told Kommersant it would be handled through established procedures. No public decision or implementation date was reported. Any formal change would need to clarify how outages are declared, how delayed submissions are handled, and whether temporary overseas data storage is permitted.
Until the government announces a decision, the existing domestic data-storage requirement remains the rule described in the report, and the proposed emergency protections should not be treated as in force. Further details may emerge through the ministries’ review or subsequent government guidance.
Key Questions
What are Russian retailers asking the government to do?
AKIT wants emergency rules for mass outages in state information systems, including delayed data submissions, backup transmission methods, and protection from penalties for missed deadlines during an emergency.
Why did AKIT make the request?
The association drafted its letter after Ukrainian drones struck data centers belonging to Yandex and Sberbank. AKIT said those attacks did not cause major retail disruption, but argued that rules should be ready for a future force majeure.
Would the proposal let companies store personal data abroad?
AKIT is seeking temporary permission to store and process Russians’ personal data in countries it calls “friendly.” The request has not been approved, and the report does not specify eligible countries or the proposed limits.
Has the Russian government approved the proposals?
No approval has been reported. The Economy Ministry and Finance Ministry said the letter would be reviewed through the established procedure.
Were businesses already forced to stop operating?
Rusprodsoyuz said isolated outages had forced some companies to halt operations and use paper records. AKIT said the data center attacks did not cause major disruptions in retail at the time. The report does not provide figures on affected businesses or outage duration.
Source: rss
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