Dmitry Uryakin has commented on the situation in the St Petersburg retail market for RBC in connection with a contradiction in the federal and regional quarantine measures

The public holidays announced at the end of last week and the resolution of the governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Beglov, banned the operation of most non-food stores. However, trade has continued for not only grocery stores and pharmacies, but also sellers of children’s goods, repair products and even household appliances stores. Market players were able to ignore the order of the authorities because of contradictions in the laws. At the regional level, trade is allowed exclusively in food and essential goods, while federal orders also authorise the sale of goods not included in the list of the most necessary, provided that the stock includes at least one group of goods mentioned in this list.

One of the main causes of uncertainty is the lack of an adequate system of penalties for breaching epidemiological measures. As Maxima Legal Associate, Dmitry Uryakin, told RBC Petersburg, according to the Code of Administrative Offences, organisations that continue to work despite the ban and restrictions may be fined from 10,000 to 20,000 roubles or administrative suspension for up to 90 days. However, this standard cannot be applied in the current situation, since the epidemic and quarantine in St Petersburg have not been officially announced. “Since the decision of the Government of St Petersburg was adopted earlier than the order of the Government of the Russian Federation, it seems that in the near future the rules allowing organisations to carry out trading activities in the sale of essential goods will be adjusted”, said Dmitry Uryakin.

To read the article (in Russian), please see the RBC website >>>