The Government Commission of the Russian Federation has given the green light to the draft law on AI: a focus on sovereignty and national models
On June 22, the government commission on legislative activities approved a bill aimed at supporting the development of artificial intelligence in Russia. This step marks an important stage in shaping the national AI strategy, where priority is given to domestic developments.
The key feature of the document is its focus exclusively on large foundational models containing more than 1 billion parameters. The bill introduces a clear classification of such systems. "Sovereign" models are those fully developed by a Russian legal entity at all stages using local infrastructure. "National" models allow for the partial use of open-source components.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko emphasized that it is the "sovereign" and "national" models that will receive priority state support. Plans are in place to implement them in the most sensitive areas, such as public administration. This is a logical step given the pursuit of technological independence.
A number of controversial provisions were excluded from the final version of the bill. In particular, mandatory labeling of AI-generated content, blocks on copyright, regulation of data centers, and restrictions on foreign neural networks were removed. According to Grigorenko, the document does not imply a ban on foreign solutions, indicating a pragmatic approach. It is separately noted that the category of "trusted" models for critical infrastructure was abandoned due to existing requirements from the FSTEC and the FSB.
The document is planned to be submitted to the State Duma by the end of the week. The main provisions are expected to come into force on September 1, 2026, and the norms regarding government powers from March 1, 2027. For already implemented models that do not meet the new criteria, a transition period until September 1, 2032 is provided, provided that data is processed in the Russian Federation.
Analytical commentary: This bill is not just a regulatory initiative, but a clear signal to the market. The exclusion of strict bans on foreign solutions and content labeling suggests that the authorities aim not to stifle innovation, but to create conditions for the growth of domestic players. However, the key challenge will remain practical implementation: can Russian infrastructure ensure the competitiveness of "sovereign" models without access to advanced global computing power?