Russia is advancing towards a complete prohibition of all electronic smoking devices, including vapes and heated tobacco products like IQOS, after President Vladimir Putin supported the idea, according to Nizhny Novgorod Governor Gleb Nikitin. Speaking at a Federation Council meeting on October 23rd, Nikitin confirmed the President’s backing for a full ban on all electronic nicotine delivery systems, stating, “No exceptions or lobbying loopholes are foreseen.”
The initiative, which Putin reportedly agreed to test in a pilot program in the Nizhny Novgorod region, gained momentum after State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin signaled parliamentary support for such a government proposal. Nikitin has linked the use of these devices to demographic challenges and the health of the nation, noting their high prevalence among schoolchildren.
Sergey Leonov, Chairman of the State Duma’s Health Protection Committee, indicated in September that a law for a complete ban on vapes could be passed by 2026. He acknowledged ongoing discussions regarding potential budget losses from lost tax revenue but argued these would be far outweighed by future healthcare costs for treating related illnesses like cancer. Leonov specified that the bill would prohibit not only certain substances but the devices themselves, with a provision to add new devices to the list as they appear.
While the full ban is being developed, the State Duma has already passed a bill in its first reading to prohibit the sale of tobacco and vapes in kiosks at bus stops. This builds on existing laws that ban vape sales to minors, for which fines were significantly increased in February 2025, with penalties for legal entities reaching up to 2 million rubles for selling to underage individuals.
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