Mishustin orders digital ministry to tighten Gosuslugi account protection
In short
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered the Digital Development Ministry to strengthen protection of accounts on the Gosuslugi government services portal and to work out additional conditions for logging in or restoring access. Speaking at the “Цифровые решения” forum, he said the portal has 120 million users and that criminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to imitate voices and appearances. Vedomosti reported that a “green button” to cancel the “red button” and lift restrictions imposed by participants of the “Antifraud” system will appear on the portal.
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Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered the Digital Development Ministry to strengthen protection of accounts on the Gosuslugi government services portal and to work out additional conditions for logging in or restoring access, according to TASS, RIA Novosti, RBC, Interfax, Vedomosti and Kommersant. The instruction was given at the plenary session of the “Цифровые решения” forum, Interfax, Vedomosti and Kommersant reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Interfax quoted Mishustin as saying: “Министерству цифрового развития, конечно, необходимо усилить и защиту учетных записей портала госуслуг, которым пользуются уже 120 млн человек. Их данные должны надежно храниться. Надо проработать дополнительные условия для входа на платформу или при восстановлении доступа к ней.” Kommersant carried a similar quotation, also citing TASS, in which Mishustin asked the ministry to work out additional conditions for entering the platform or restoring access. [ 4 , 6 ]
Mishustin said criminals have become more active in using artificial intelligence to imitate people’s voices, appearance and behaviour, and that citizens need to be informed so they understand when content is artificially created and cannot be trusted, Interfax reported. Kommersant reported that he said AI agents have learned to alter records, initiate transactions and carry out cyberattacks. Both outlets reported his statement that fighting such crimes will require coordinated efforts by the entire information security industry. [ 4 , 6 ]
The accounts of the fall in cybercrime differ between the outlets. Interfax quoted Mishustin as saying that laws against cyber fraud had been adopted earlier and that the number of such crimes fell by almost a third over the first eight months of the year, while acknowledging the measures taken so far were not enough. Kommersant cited Interior Ministry estimates that the number of cybercrimes fell 30% in the first six months of 2026, to 252,900 from 371,400 a year earlier, and said the Digital Development Ministry links the decline to the “Antifraud” package of anti-fraud measures, with a third package now being developed. [ 4 , 6 ]
Vedomosti reported that a “green button” will appear on Gosuslugi — a mechanism to cancel the “red button” and lift restrictions imposed by participants of the “Antifraud” system. It recalled that on 1 October Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko said the “red button” for protection against fraudsters would start working on Gosuslugi in 2026, that banks and telecom operators are joining the service, and that pressing the button would freeze significant online operations. [ 5 ]
Kommersant reported that the strengthening of login protection will build on the existing mandatory two-factor authentication applied to all users since 28 October 2023, and that a separate part of the instruction concerns restoring access and changing passwords. It said that in 2025 the Digital Development Ministry proposed connecting a trusted contact who receives an additional code when a password is changed without gaining access to the account, and that changes to the access-restoration procedure, including cases of blocking because of fraud, formed part of the second anti-fraud package. Vedomosti noted that on 30 September the ministry said accounts on Gosuslugi can now be confirmed in telecom operator salons, not only in banks, multifunctional centres and state bodies, for users in remote areas, and listed three account types: a simplified one for reference information, a standard one giving access to simple services after personal data is provided, and a confirmed account giving full access. [ 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
Gosuslugi is the main channel through which Russian citizens obtain state services, so changes to how accounts are protected and how access is restored affect a very large number of users. The instruction indicates the government considers existing anti-fraud legislation insufficient and expects the information security industry to coordinate more closely. Vedomosti’s report places the measure alongside the “Antifraud” system that banks and telecom operators are joining.
Key facts
- Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered the Digital Development Ministry to strengthen protection of Gosuslugi accounts. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- He instructed the ministry to work out additional conditions for logging into the portal and for restoring access to it. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Mishustin said the portal is used by 120 million people and that their data must be stored reliably. [ 4 , 6 ]
- Mishustin said criminals are making more active use of artificial intelligence to imitate people’s voices, appearance and behaviour, and that citizens should be informed about this. [ 4 , 6 ]
- Interfax reported that Mishustin said the number of cyber fraud crimes fell by almost a third over the first eight months of the year, while acknowledging the measures taken so far were not enough. [ 4 ]
- Kommersant cited Interior Ministry estimates that cybercrimes fell 30% in the first six months of 2026, to 252,900 from 371,400 a year earlier. [ 6 ]
- Vedomosti reported that a “green button” will appear on Gosuslugi, a mechanism to cancel the “red button” and lift restrictions imposed by participants of the “Antifraud” system. [ 5 ]
- Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko said on 1 October that the “red button” for protection against fraudsters would start working on Gosuslugi in 2026, according to Vedomosti. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered the Digital Development Ministry to strengthen protection of Gosuslugi user accounts. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The instruction includes working out additional conditions for logging into the portal or restoring access to it. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Mishustin made the statement at the “Цифровые решения” forum. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Mishustin said the portal has 120 million users whose data must be reliably stored. [ 4 , 6 ]
- Mishustin said criminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to imitate people’s voices, appearance and behaviour, and that the fight against such crimes requires coordinated efforts by the information security industry. [ 4 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Which specific protection measures the Digital Development Ministry will introduce, and on what timetable. The documents say the ministry was told to work out additional conditions but do not state which measures were chosen or when they would take effect.
- Whether the “green button” described by Vedomosti is part of the measures ordered by Mishustin. Vedomosti reports the forthcoming “green button” alongside the order but does not state that the two are directly linked.
- The scale of the fall in cybercrime, and the period it covers. Interfax quotes Mishustin saying such crimes fell almost a third over the first eight months of the year, while Kommersant cites Interior Ministry figures for the first six months of 2026 showing a 30% fall; the two accounts use different periods and figures.
- Details of the third package of anti-fraud measures now being developed. Only Kommersant mentions it, without specifics.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reports that Mishustin instructed the Digital Development Ministry to strengthen protection of Gosuslugi accounts. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports Mishustin’s call to strengthen protection of accounts on Gosuslugi. [ 2 ]
- RBC reports the instruction to the Digital Development Ministry, including working out additional conditions for logging in or restoring access. [ 3 ]
- Interfax publishes Mishustin’s remarks at the “Цифровые решения” forum, including the 120 million user figure and the fall in cyber fraud. [ 4 ]
- Vedomosti reports the instruction and adds that a “green button” will appear on Gosuslugi. [ 5 ]
- Kommersant reports the instruction, Mishustin’s remarks on AI agents and cyberattacks, and Interior Ministry cybercrime figures. [ 6 ]