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            [post_date] => 2025-12-17 13:40:05
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            [post_content] => 
An expert article by Valery Afanasyev, Director of the Government Relations and Regulatory Risk Assessment Practice at Baikal Communications Group, has been published on the website of the industry media outlet Agroinvestor. The article examines changes in the model of state support for the agro-industrial complex (AIC) and their implications for business. Prepared specifically for the publication, the material analyzes the sector’s transition from a period of record-level budgetary injections to a more restrained and targeted financing policy.
The article notes that following peak levels of government support in 2023–2024, the agro-industrial complex is, for the first time in a long period, entering a phase of reduced budgetary allocations. This shift is driven by budgetary constraints, a high key interest rate, and declining export revenues. Under these conditions, public policy is moving away from expanding subsidy volumes toward improving the efficiency, targeting, and controllability of support measures.
Particular attention is paid to funding trends in key government programs, including the State Program for the Development of Agriculture, the Integrated Rural Development Program, and the Land Reclamation Development Program. The author demonstrates that even where significant absolute funding levels are maintained, the “high-base effect” creates a market perception of declining support, while competition among companies increasingly unfolds not only for markets but also for access to public resources.
The article provides a detailed analysis of changes in preferential lending mechanisms, the rising cost of borrowed funds, and the tightening of banks’ approaches to the agricultural sector. These factors increase the financial burden on producers and elevate the importance of non-financial resilience instruments, ranging from regulatory adaptation to strategic planning of engagement with public authorities.
A separate section of the article addresses the reasons behind adjustments to budgetary policy, including changes in the revenue structure, reduced proceeds from export duties, and a shift toward stricter control over public spending. The author emphasizes that the state is increasingly prioritizing support for key areas such as breeding and genetics, digitalization, technological development, and workforce capacity building within the sector.
In conclusion, Valery Afanasyev notes that amid declining direct financial support and a more complex regulatory environment, the role of the government relations (GR) function for agribusiness is becoming significantly more important. Companies’ ability to establish a structured dialogue with regulators, participate in rulemaking, and substantiate the relevance of their projects to national priorities is emerging as a critical factor for sustainability and long-term development of the agro-industrial complex.
For further details, see the Agroinvestor article.
            [post_title] => THE HIGH-BASE EFFECT: IMPLICATIONS OF THE PHASE-OUT OF LARGE-SCALE STATE SUPPORT FOR THE AGRO-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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            [post_date] => 2025-12-09 16:26:25
            [post_date_gmt] => 2025-12-09 13:26:25
            [post_content] => 
According to Vyacheslav Kharitonov, Regulatory Risk Assessment Expert at Baikal Communications Group, the amendments to the rules governing the registration and expert evaluation of medicinal products adopted by the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission are aimed at strengthening trust in the supranational regulatory framework and safeguarding applicants’ sensitive information.
“A substantial amount of confidential data — including commercial secrets — is currently consolidated within a unified information framework. Therefore, ensuring an adequate level of trust in the new procedures is critically important for the EEC. One of the subsequent stages in developing the regulatory environment may involve establishing an analogue of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which would assume responsibility for coordinating scientific evaluation and marketing authorization processes,” Kharitonov emphasized.
The Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission has approved amendments to the rules for the registration and expert evaluation of medicinal products within the EAEU. Decision No. 93 dated 26 November 2025 has been published on the EEC legal portal.
The document introduces the term “confidential data,” which includes information protected as a commercial secret, such as details on manufacturing processes, inspection results, registration strategies, and production sites. Applicants will be able to request the exclusion of such data from publicly available expert reports, thereby safeguarding their competitive advantages.
In addition, the amendments revise the classification of variations to registration dossiers, clarify the procedures for scientific and regulatory evaluation, specify requirements for dossier composition, and harmonize documentation rules for medicinal product registration across the EAEU.
The adopted changes are intended to modernize the regulatory framework governing the circulation of medicinal products in the Union’s common market and to support the development of a more resilient supranational regulatory model for the pharmaceutical sector.
Further details are available in the Pharmvestnik.
            [post_title] => The EEC Council Approves Amendments to the Rules for the Registration and Expert Evaluation of Medicinal Products
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            [post_date] => 2025-12-08 11:17:30
            [post_date_gmt] => 2025-12-08 08:17:30
            [post_content] => On 5 December, the GR and lobbying case championship «GRanitsa Vliyaniya», supported by Baikal Communications Group as an official partner, concluded its work. The event was aimed at developing students’ practical skills at the intersection of public policy, corporate governance, and regulatory affairs.
The championship generated significant interest. A total of 319 applications were submitted, and 112 participants advanced to the first round, representing various Moscow universities, including the Presidential Academy (RANEPA), MGIMO University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Higher School of Economics, Kutafin Moscow State Law University, the All-Russian Academy of Foreign Trade (VAVT), and the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation. As a result, the competition united the country’s leading educational institutions that train professionals in public policy, economics, and law.
Within the «GR in Non-Profit Organizations» track, organized with the involvement of Baikal Communications Group, teams worked on a case dedicated to addressing the issue of stray animals in Russia. Experts highlighted the high level of participant engagement, the thorough analysis of the regulatory environment, and the balanced consideration of the interests of the state, society, and the non-profit sector. The final solutions included concrete, practice-oriented proposals aligned with both the governmental agenda and societal needs.
The case championship enabled participants to gain practical experience in decision-making processes affecting the development of industries, companies, and non-profit organizations, as well as to work on real managerial challenges. Students solved cases based on real-world examples, collaborated with industry experts, and presented their solutions to the professional community.
In addition, the educational program featured a master class delivered by Eduard Voitenko, Chief Executive Officer of Baikal Communications Group and PhD in Political Science. He presented practical approaches to building effective business–government interaction mechanisms and addressed participants’ questions regarding career development in GR and lobbying.
The championship program included:
• Case studies provided by partner companies;
• Direct communication with heads of GR and PR functions;
• Participation of representatives of public authorities;
• Professional guidance and career consultations.
The event attracted undergraduate, specialist degree, and master’s students interested in developing competencies in GR and lobbying, strengthening their expertise, and engaging in decision-making processes that affect society, the state, and the business environment.
The championship became an important platform for professional development, knowledge exchange, and the formation of individual career paths supported by the industry community. The top teams received awards and were offered internship opportunities at the State Duma of the Russian Federation and Baikal Communications Group.
Our company remains committed to fostering the professional GR and lobbying community, sharing expert knowledge, and promoting a culture of transparent and responsible interaction between business and government.
            [post_title] => A case championship on GR and lobbying «GRanitsa Vliyaniya» was held in Moscow
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            [post_date] => 2025-12-05 15:35:18
            [post_date_gmt] => 2025-12-05 12:35:18
            [post_content] => Experts of Baikal Communications Group — Valery Afanasyev, Head of the Government Relations and Regulatory Risk Assessment Practice, and Zhanna Logacheva, Expert of the same practice — have prepared an analytical overview of the transformation of the regulatory framework governing the dietary supplements (biologically active additives, BAA) market in Russia in 2025. The publication was released on the Retail.ru platform and focuses on the key legislative changes and their impact on the industry.
According to DSM Group, by September 2025 the Russian dietary supplements market reached RUB 129.8 billion, demonstrating nearly 25% year-on-year growth. The rapid expansion of this segment has driven the need for stronger state control over the circulation of illegal products. Since 2023, a mandatory product labeling system for dietary supplements has been introduced, and further measures aimed at tightening regulatory oversight over manufacturers are under development. In addition, starting in October 2026, the Law on the Platform Economy will come into force, obliging marketplaces to prevent the sale of unregistered dietary supplements.
The key regulatory milestone of the year was the entry into force of Federal Law No. 150-FZ dated June 7, 2025, which legally authorized physicians to prescribe dietary supplements when medically indicated, and also introduced restrictions on interactions between healthcare professionals and supplement manufacturers. In order to implement this law, the Russian Ministry of Health is currently developing quality and efficacy criteria for dietary supplements, which are scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2026.
Experts note that the state is shifting from selective supervision to comprehensive regulation of the market, gradually aligning dietary supplement requirements with certain pharmaceutical standards. This is expected to enhance industry transparency and strengthen consumer confidence, while simultaneously increasing the regulatory burden on manufacturers.
“Including dietary supplements in clinical recommendations will expand the consumer base and strengthen public trust. However, there is a risk of excessive regulation. The requirement to reference active ingredients in dietary supplements solely within Russian clinical guidelines appears overly stringent, given the lack of consensus on the efficacy of many nutraceuticals. This may result in the withdrawal of beneficial products from the market. Assessing dietary supplements according to criteria applicable to medicinal products distorts the nature of the category and hampers innovation. What is needed is flexible regulation that encourages product diversity and meets consumers’ healthcare needs,” explained Zhanna Logacheva, Expert at the Government Relations and Regulatory Risk Assessment Practice.
The full version of the article is available on Retail.ru
            [post_title] => Experts from Baikal Communications Group Analyze Key Changes in the Regulation of the Dietary Supplements Market in 2025
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            [ID] => 9470
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            [post_date] => 2025-12-04 18:18:46
            [post_date_gmt] => 2025-12-04 15:18:46
            [post_content] => Eduard Voytenko, CEO of Baikal Communications Group, PhD in Political Science, and Valery Afanasyev, Head of the GR and Regulatory Risk Assessment Practice, have been included in the third annual “Lawyers and Law Firms Ranking – 2025” published by Rossiyskaya Gazeta. They were recognized in two First-Tier nominations:

 	
GR / Government Relations, and
 	
Lawyers as Public Educators.

The GR / Government relations nomination was introduced in the ranking for the first time this year, and representatives of Baikal Communications Group immediately entered its top, First Tier.
The ranking includes 22 nominations, within which professionals are categorized into several tiers. The First Tier brings together the most authoritative and highly regarded experts in their respective fields. Inclusion in this tier confirms a high level of professional expertise, a strong business reputation, and a significant contribution to the development of the legal and public policy industries. The ranking is individual-based, indicating the specific professionals, their companies, and positions at the time of submission.
For Baikal Communications Group, recognition in two First-Tier nominations represents an important mark of trust from the professional community and highlights the Company’s contribution to the development of best practices in the fields of GR and lobbying.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the organizers of the study and the ranking jury for their high evaluation, and to our clients and partners for their continued trust and cooperation on complex and strategically important projects.
The special issue of Rossiyskaya Gazeta dedicated to the Ranking and the legal results of 2025 is available via the official publication.
Baikal Communications Group continues to systematically enhance its expertise in legal consulting, GR, and lobbying, contributing to the development of a professional environment for constructive dialogue between business, government, and society.
            [post_title] => REPRESENTATIVES OF BAIKAL COMMUNICATIONS GROUP NAMED AMONG THE “BEST RUSSIAN LAWYERS – 2025”
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            [post_modified] => 2025-12-04 18:23:36
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