Since January 1, 2012, federal executive government bodies should not use paper in its internal document management, according to the Order No. 176-r issued by the Russian Government on February 12, 2011.

The Order says that relevant e-document management guidelines will be ready up to April 2011, and lists of documents to be digitized, as well as departmental plans for paperless work introduction, should be approved up to May.

The Federal Archive Agency, the Ministry for Communications and Mass Media, and the Ministry for Economic Development will be in charge of total e-documenting within Russian federal authorities.

The novelty looks rather positive though there are some questions about computer skills of Russian officials and of their habit to trust only paper documents. Will they not appear to print all documents submitted and received in e-form?