This is article from coindesk -http://www.coindesk.com/btce-pulls-support-ruble-russia-bans-bitcoin/- states clearly that Russia has banned cryptos in the country.
“The anonymous payment systems and crypto-currencies, including bitcoin – which is the most popular of them – are monetary surrogates. As such, their use by private citizens or legal entities is not allowed."
Anyone has the original source in Russian?
http://cbr.ru/press/PR.aspx?file=27012014_1825052.htmSo it s the same official statement that I referred to. The statement is (if Google translate is right):
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Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia)
Press office
107016, Moscow, ul. Neglinnaya 12, tel.: +7 495 771-44-17, 771-4669, fax: +7 495 771-49-32;
www.cbr.ruInformation
On the use in transactions "virtual currency", in particular, Bitcoin
The Bank of Russia said that recently in the world have a certain distribution of the so-called "virtual currency", in particular, Bitcoin. By "virtual currencies" and there is no provision for them legally obliged entities. These operations are speculative in nature, carried out on the so-called "virtual exchanges" and carry a high risk of loss of value.
The Bank of Russia warns citizens and legal entities, primarily credit institutions and non-credit financial institutions, the use of "virtual currency" for them in exchange for goods (works, services) or cash in rubles and foreign currency.
According to article 27 of the Federal Law "On the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia)" issue in the Russian Federation monetary surrogates prohibited.
Due to the anonymous nature of the activity for the production of "virtual currency" unlimited range of actors and to use them for transactions citizens and legal persons may be, including unintentionally involved in illegal activities, including the legalization (laundering) of proceeds from crime and terrorist financing.
The Bank of Russia has warned that Russian legal entities providing services for the exchange of "virtual currency" in rubles and foreign currency, as well as for goods (works, services) will be considered as a potential involvement in the implementation of suspicious transactions in accordance with the legislation on counteraction to legalization (laundering) proceeds of crime and financing of terrorism.
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It says 3 things basically:
1- warning against the use of "virtual currencies"
2- there is no possible use of money surrogate (surrogate meaning replacing the rubble here)
3- exchanging virtual currency will be considered as a potential involvement in suspicious transactions.
We are already used to 1-
2- is nothing new and bitcoin is not here to replace the rubble.
3- is I agree harsh but as long as you are not dealing with the mafia, it should be ok (I concede: easier to say than to do in Russia).
So there is no clear statement that says -“The anonymous payment systems and crypto-currencies, including bitcoin – which is the most popular of them – are monetary surrogates. As such, their use by private citizens or legal entities is not allowed." - so far.
I may be wrong though.
And even if that statement exists, they have yet to make a law that bans bitcoins and crypto clearly.
It looks to me that they are preparing laws that would do the opposite legalizing cryptos by regulating them.
Forbidding cryptos would be an act of dictatorship. I don t believe Russia is a totalitarian country, at that stage....
