Russia’s Krasnodar bans storefront signs in foreign languages

The Krasnodar city council has approved the ban on placing storefront signs in foreign languages, the city administration website announcement reads.

The decision will enter into force on 1 September. Registered trademarks will not be affected.

According to Krasnodar’s main architect Artem Salamatin, the changes will take place gradually. Signs placed on main streets and the historic centre will have to be changed before 1 March 2024, while the rest of the city has a bit more time to do so until 1 September 2024.

Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov announced the decision to crack down on foreign shop signs in February. According to him, they look “unpatriotic”. “I think 90% of storefront signs in London and Washington are not in Russian. Work this issue out,” he said.

A similar initiative has already been voiced in the Russian parliament. Last summer, lower house Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said that a draft bill to ban signs in foreign languages had been prepared. However, the document was never submitted to the house.