Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, Russia's prime minister said he wanted to saturate the market to create fast access to essential goods

Russia is allowing imports without the permission of the trademark owner in response to the sanctions.

As part of a fourth package of support for small and medium-sized businesses, the Prime Minister approved parallel imports.

The West responded to Russia's war with a surge in inflation.

Goods can not be sold in Russia without the trademark owner's approval, according to the prime minister.

The aim of allowing retailers to import products without permission was to saturate the market so that people had fast access to necessary goods, despite the unfriendly actions of foreign politicians.

The ministry of industry and trade was to co-ordinate the lists of products. Russian reports say they will focus on consumer products where prices have gone up.

The value of the rouble has fallen this week, while annual inflation has risen. Russia's anti-monopoly service said it was investigating the country's five biggest producers of sugar, which has been hit by price rises and shortages.

Russia announced last week that unfriendly countries would have to pay for their natural gas in roubles.

The idea was rejected by the EU and Germany's Chancellor said that Europe would be able to continue paying in euros to an unsanctioned Russian bank.

Hundreds of global brands, including Apple and H&M, have either stopped selling in Russia or pulled out of the market.

Basic nutrition and hygiene items have been provided by several companies. Sports shop Decathlon said this week that it was closing its shops because of supply chain problems, and that the vast majority of volume and sales in Russia had been suspended.

Russian state institutions have been barred from buying foreign software for critical information infrastructure without government consent.

The decree covers telecom and information systems used by government agencies, as well as companies in defence, healthcare, transport, energy and finance.

  • Russia-Ukraine war
  • Russia
  • Inflation
  • Russia economy
  • Trade