[Translation prepared by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

"St. Petersburg authorities have banned migrants from driving taxis and working in rented cars", 28 July 2025

St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov has banned migrants from driving taxis in the city and working in "rented cars."

The ban was introduced by Beglov's decree of July 28 and is valid until the end of 2025, Fontanka writes, citing a press service report.

"The Governor of St. Petersburg, in accordance with paragraph 6 of Article 18.1 of the Federal Law "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation," has decided to impose a ban on the employment of foreign citizens by business entities who carry out labor activities on the basis of patents in the type of economic activity "activities of passenger taxis and rented passenger cars with a driver" (OKVED code 49.32) for the period until the end of 2025," the statement said.

The document will come into force 10 days after signing. Employers are given three months during which they must terminate contracts with migrant drivers.

In this way, the authorities intend to improve the “quality and safety” of services.

The possible introduction of a ban of this kind was discussed back in May 2025. An economist commented on the initiative on Current Time , drawing attention to the fact that such measures would increase prices for taxi and delivery services, and would also affect the state of the economy as a whole.