In 2025, Russia launched a new national project titled Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State, which includes a dedicated federal initiative on artificial intelligence development running through 2030.

Unlike the US and China, Russia does not currently position itself as a global front-runner in AI technologies. As a result, both the conceptual framework and performance indicators (KPIs) embedded in the new federal project are built around a “catch-up development” paradigm. In practice, they are also meant to neutralize the growing number of barriers to technological growth that have emerged since February 2022 from sanctions and export restrictions to a sharp drop in venture investment, restructuring of major tech companies and the emigration of skilled talent.

The new federal project continues the trajectory set by the broader National Strategy for AI Development to 2030, while placing notable emphasis on developing human capital, promoting educational initiatives, and gradually embedding AI solutions into public administration and the real-economy sectors.

At the same time, Russia still lacks a comprehensive system of AI-specific regulation. While a dedicated multi-party working group of the State Duma began work on this issue in spring 2025, its first substantive results could be presented in autumn 2025.

This memo provides a detailed overview of the current trajectory of AI regulation in Russia covering the conceptual underpinnings of the new federal project, as well as the key platforms where public-private dialogue on regulatory frameworks can take place to ensure stakeholder interests are taken into account.