Vladimir Putin introduced a “four-level answer” for Russian regions: What does it mean? the lawyer answers

At today’s meeting of the Security Council, Vladimir Putin introduced four levels of restrictions for Russian regions:

• Martial law in the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions (entered into force from midnight on 20 October 2022);

• medium level of intervention (Republic of Crimea, Krasnodar region, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, Rostov regions and Sevastopol);

• high alert level (all districts of the Central and Southern federal districts, except those listed in the previous paragraph);

• there are no restrictions for all other regions.

The President of Russia also said that regional heads would be given additional powers to ensure security.

What do “moderate response”, “high alert” and other expressions mean in practice?

We are interested in Yulia Andreeva, a lawyer and partner of the law firm S&K Vertical.

Julia Andreeva

Today, Vladimir Putin signed two decrees: Decree “On the implementation of martial law in the territory of the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions” and “On measures taken in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in connection with the Decree” of the President of the Russian Federation October 19, 2022 No. 756″.

The second decree contains information on four levels of response. The main difference between the levels lies in the limits of the powers vested in the subjects’ highest officials (governors).

In matters with a baseline level, governors are given lesser authority, these include:

• Implement measures to meet the needs of the Armed Forces;

• strengthen the protection of public order, important objects and the population;

• It can introduce special modes of operation for facilities that provide the functioning of transport, communication and communication, energy facilities and facilities that pose an increased danger to human life and health and the natural environment.

At a high alert level, governors, in addition to the above:

• take separate measures for civil and territorial defense;

• may restrict the movement of vehicles and cause searches;

• can provide control over the operation of facilities providing the functioning of transport, communications and communications, the operation of printing houses, computer centers and automated systems, and the use of their work for defense needs.

With an average level of response, governors also:

• have the authority to carry out mobilization activities in the economic field;

• Organize the temporary resettlement of residents to safe areas, subject to the mandatory provision of such residents with permanent or temporary accommodation;

• It may impose a special regime for entry and exit from the region and at the same time restrict freedom of movement within the region.

Governors act in areas of maximum intervention in accordance with the Martial Law Code (the restrictions and features of the regime are discussed in the bureau’s podcast) and can take all the above measures.