Executive Summary

Since the API was first published in 2014, the Russian Federation has adopted for the first time an overarching animal welfare act, Federal Law No. 498-ФЗ ‘On Responsible Handling of Animals and on Amending Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation’ (17 December 2018). This new law, in conjunction with the Penal Code of the Russian Federation (1996, amended 2012), are the main legal instruments through which animal welfare can be safeguarded and enforced in Russia. Federal Law No. 498-ФЗ recognises that certain animals should be treated as being capable of experiencing emotions and physical suffering. The Act states that the fate of animals is a human responsibility; that the Russian population should be educated in moral and humane attitudes towards animals, and that animal welfare is a scientifically-based combination of moral, economic and social interests of a person, society and the State. Provisions are made within the Act to safeguard the welfare of companion animals and stray animals. Of particular significance is the legislation prohibiting the killing of stray animals and the duty of care endowed upon animal owners of companion animals, and penalties associated with a failure to act in case of animal cruelty. Furthermore, this new legislation bans animal fights and restricts physical contact between wild animals and spectators during cultural and entertainment events, thus outlawing petting zoos and wild animal ‘cafés’.

However, there is room for improvement in many areas related to animal welfare. Notably, all farm animals (including aquaculture and fur farming), animals used for scientific research and wild animals are explicitly excluded from the scope of application of Federal Law No. 498-ФЗ. Much legal work remains to adequately safeguard the welfare of animals not covered by this Law. Federal Law No. 498-Ф neither defines ‘animals’ nor explicitly recognises animals as sentient; restricting them to being considered as things or property in law. Furthermore, Russian laws only offer basic provision safeguarding the welfare of certain species under certain conditions (e.g. the provision of bedding, food and water to pigs transported over six consecutive hours by road). The exploitative use of animals for fur production is still allowed in the country. Moreover, only anti-cruelty provisions are applicable to animals used in scientific research.

There is no evidence of responsibility for animal protection being allocated to an individual body of the government. The Ministry of Agriculture is in charge of enacting regulations for animals used in farming.

The Government of Russia is urged to formally recognise animals as sentient in legislation, given the scientific evidence which has proven that all vertebrates, cephalopods and decapod crustaceans are sentient. Furthermore, the Government of Russia is strongly encouraged to expand the scope of application of Federal Law No. 498-ФЗ to all animals. The Government of Russia is urged to ban the confinement of farm animals – for instance, in sow stalls and farrowing crates for pigs, and in cages for egg-laying hens – and the Government is urged to mandate the humane slaughter of all farm animals, with stunning prior to slaughter. The Government of Russia is furthermore urged to ban fur farming, which is inherently cruel, causing pain and distress to animals. The Government of Russia is urged to outlaw forms of entertainment which cause animal suffering, such as the use of captive marine mammals in shows for the public. Further legal and policy recommendations are associated with each Animal Protection Index (API) indicator and contained in the relevant sections of this report.