The discussion surrounding a potential vape ban among Russian lawmakers has been ongoing for several years. Previously, President Vladimir Putin endorsed the idea of prohibiting vapes at a regional level during a meeting with Nizhny Novgorod Governor Gleb Nikitin.
The State Duma is poised to pass a bill imposing a complete ban on vapes within the next two months. Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin confirmed that this proposal enjoys overwhelming support among deputies. Just recently, President Vladimir Putin, during a discussion with Nizhny Novgorod Governor Gleb Nikitin, backed the concept of a vape prohibition, though initially at a regional scale.
The notion of banning vapes has been circulating since 2023, originally proposed by the Chairman of the State Duma. The government initially did not approve the draft bill, but the issue was revisited in 2024. Now, the initiative appears increasingly likely to be implemented, focusing on granting regions the authority to ban vape sales, with Nizhny Novgorod Oblast slated as a potential testing ground. Earlier in January, Sergey Leonov, head of the Duma`s health protection committee, launched a campaign against vapes, citing concerns that teenagers use them significantly more than traditional cigarettes, urging authorities to “protect children from this scourge”:
“Of course, vapes must be banned. I have repeatedly co-authored relevant legislative initiatives myself. The question was whether the government would support this initiative or not. There are enough deputies in the State Duma who wish to ban vapes. I am confident that if such a bill is introduced and supported by the government, it will be passed. The timeline could be significantly expedited. It depends on the political climate, so to speak. Given the president`s support, this is highly realistic. It means the time has come, the situation is ripe. It means the arguments we presented have been heard, including by the president and the governors.”
Asked about the fate of other tobacco heating devices like IQOS should vapes be banned, Leonov responded: “This will be discussed during the work on the bill.”
The apprehension surrounding vapes has recently intensified in post-Soviet nations, with Kyrgyzstan outright banning sales and usage, and Kazakhstan restricting their circulation. Mikhail Vinogradov, president of the `Petersburg Politics` foundation, weighs in on why this issue has resurfaced with such urgency in Russia:
Mikhail Vinogradov
President, Petersburg Politics Foundation“Currently, it`s hard to discern a rational basis for restricting vapes. On one hand, there`s a desire to shift the agenda, to demonstrate how the authorities are tackling something that is unclear both to themselves and to the older generation. There are no sound, rational grounds supporting this. It seems to be more about a moral endorsement of a regional initiative, implying it could be rolled back. Yet, for some reason, it`s been decided that state intervention in this area—another aspect of citizens` daily lives, much like communication via messengers—should earn some political points. On the other hand, we know that information about Putin`s meetings with governors isn`t always reported daily; this initiative might not have been particularly tied to the agenda, or it could be another opportunity to reward the Nizhny Novgorod governor, who is generally well-regarded, but more so in a rational capacity, and hasn`t been the most active in proposing bans until now.”
According to Businesstat, vape and e-cigarette sales in Russia surged nearly ninefold between 2020 and 2024, escalating from 28 million to 245 million units. This market growth was driven by affordability, especially in the illicit sector, an expanding product range, and a proliferation of new retail outlets. Maxim Korolev, editor-in-chief of the industry news agency `Russian Tobacco,` is convinced that a vape ban will only pave the way for a flourishing black market:
Maxim Korolev
Editor-in-Chief, Russian Tobacco Industry News Agency“The idea itself is, in my opinion, foolish, because we have no borders. Everyone will simply buy them in neighboring regions if they want legal products, and most vape users already purchase illegally. Whether it`s banned or not, regulation doesn`t affect illegal markets; that`s a known fact. We`re looking under the lamppost but lost it elsewhere. This is a random choice, and it`s no better than Vologda Oblast`s experiments with alcohol. Let them experiment, it won`t achieve anything.”
Dr. David Zaridze, a Doctor of Medical Sciences, professor, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, and oncologist, reported at a State Duma expert council meeting in March 2023 that the campaign against vapes had inadvertently led to a resurgence in the popularity of traditional cigarettes. This, in turn, resulted in an increase in lung cancer incidence and mortality.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth