Raids against the illegal sale of vapes will take place in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

      March 27, 2026 11:54 Society In the Nizhny Novgorod region, preparations are underway for mass inspections of retail outlets where nicotine-containing products, including vapes, may be sold illegally. The raids will primarily take place in Nizhny Novgorod. The initiative comes from Governor Gleb Nikitin. The regional prosecutor's office, the Rospotrebnadzor management, the regional Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Education, and local government bodies will join the inspections. On March 26, a meeting was held at the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin dedicated to reducing the number of retail outlets specializing in the sale of vapes. Deputy Governor Andrey Checherin reminded that, by law, it is prohibited to sell devices for consuming nicotine-containing products closer than 100 meters from kindergartens, schools, institutions of additional and secondary vocational education, as well as universities. According to Andrey Checherin, the authorities intend to check who is selling what near educational institutions and to conduct test purchases. Selling vapes to minors is prohibited and carries administrative liability. The regional Ministry of Education reported that residents themselves could also join the fight against illegal trade. A chatbot is planned to be launched soon in the Makh messenger, through which parents of schoolchildren and students, as well as other citizens, can report retail outlets located near educational institutions. It is worth noting that earlier, Governor Gleb Nikitin proposed banning the sale of vapes in the region. This idea was supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a working trip to Sarov. On March 25, the State Commission for Counteracting the Illegal Circulation of Industrial Products approved the proposal to ban vapes in Russia. First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov confirmed that federal authorities would take over further development of the issue. The rejection of smoking and alcohol, as well as the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, remain among the tasks set for the regions within the framework of the national project "Long and Active Life." It was previously reported that an experiment to ban the sale of vapes is planned in the Nizhny Novgorod region. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay updated on the main events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.