Information circulating on some Telegram channels about a complete ban on smoking cigarettes and vapes within private apartments in Russia has been identified as false. According to the "War on Fakes. Voronezh Region" channel, these claims emerged following media publications that were merely reminding citizens of existing legislation, not introducing new prohibitions.
Existing Laws Clarified: No New Ban on In-Apartment Smoking
Currently, smoking within one's own apartment in Russia remains permissible. The crucial condition is that the act of smoking must not infringe upon the rights of neighbors. This means smoke should not penetrate into other dwellings or common areas such as stairwells. The existing "On the Protection of Public Health from the Effects of Tobacco Smoke and the Consequences of Tobacco Consumption" law already prohibits smoking in common areas of residential buildings (entrances, elevators, shared balconies), with violations carrying fines of 500 to 1,500 rubles.
If smoke regularly enters neighbors' living spaces, affected residents have the right to file a complaint with Rospotrebnadzor (the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing) or take legal action in court. Past court cases indicate that compensation awarded in such instances can range from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles.
