Russia's Digital Ministry drafts regulation for electronic postal system via Gosuslugi
In short
Russia's Ministry of Digital Development has prepared a draft government decree approving a regulation on an electronic postal system that would deliver legally significant messages to citizens and organisations through the Gosuslugi portal. Interfax reported that JSC Russian Post will operate the system, which will also carry information on postal items and money transfers. Senders will be charged for certain categories of messages.
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Russia's Ministry of Digital Development has prepared a draft government decree that would approve a regulation on an electronic postal system to be used for sending legally significant messages through the Gosuslugi portal, according to the document published on the portal of draft normative acts. The state news agency RIA Novosti also reported that the ministry had prepared the draft regulation. [ 1 , 2 ]
Interfax reported that the creation of the electronic postal system is provided for by a law amending the federal law “On Postal Communication” and other Russian legislation, adopted in summer. The ministry told journalists the system “will become an official channel for sending legally significant messages to Gosuslugi for citizens and organisations”. According to Interfax, it is intended to receive and deliver legally significant messages and to send information about postal items and postal money transfers to the Gosuslugi portal and to regional portals of state and municipal services. [ 2 ]
JSC Russian Post will be the operator of the system and will be responsible for its creation, development and operation, Interfax reported. The decree defines the users of the system: state authorities at all levels, courts and law enforcement bodies, state companies and organisations with state participation, and citizens and legal entities. The system will be integrated with email mailboxes on Gosuslugi, and the regulation on creating those mailboxes will be approved by a separate document, the ministry said. [ 2 ]
Fees will be charged to senders for certain categories of messages sent to the Gosuslugi portal, Interfax reported. These include messages sent in line with legislation, municipal legal acts and Central Bank regulations as part of the functions of state authorities and the Central Bank, and messages sent as part of the functions and powers of legal entities. The Interfax report ends at that point. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The draft fixes who may use the new channel — state bodies at all levels, courts and law enforcement, state companies and organisations with state participation, as well as citizens and legal entities — potentially making it a standard route for legally significant correspondence in Russia. Because it is tied to Gosuslugi, it could change how official notices reach people. It remains a draft published for consultation, with fee categories and the rules for Gosuslugi mailboxes to be set in other documents.
Key facts
- The Ministry of Digital Development has prepared a draft government decree approving a regulation on an electronic postal system. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The draft document was published on the portal of draft normative acts. [ 2 ]
- The system is provided for by a law amending the federal law “On Postal Communication” and other legislation, adopted in summer. [ 2 ]
- JSC Russian Post will be the operator and will handle the creation, development and operation of the system. [ 2 ]
- Users include state authorities at all levels, courts and law enforcement bodies, state companies and organisations with state participation, and citizens and legal entities. [ 2 ]
- The system will be integrated with email mailboxes on Gosuslugi; the regulation on creating those mailboxes will be approved by a separate document. [ 2 ]
- Fees will be charged to senders for certain categories of messages sent to Gosuslugi. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- When the decree would take effect and how large the fees for senders would be. Neither document gives a date of entry into force or fee amounts; the Interfax text is also cut off before the full list of fee categories.
- Whether the draft has been adopted or is still at the public consultation stage. The documents report only that the draft was published on the portal of draft normative acts.
- The content of the separate document that will govern email mailboxes on Gosuslugi. The documents say only that it will be approved separately, without details.
- Most specifics of the system rest on a single outlet. RIA Novosti carried only the headline that the draft exists; the details come from Interfax alone.
- According to the ministry, the system will become an official channel for sending legally significant messages to Gosuslugi for citizens and organisations. Reported by a single source so far