Civil service carries not only status — it carries restrictions. Some are obvious; others are not. We help civil servants understand where lawful limitations end and their employment and constitutional rights begin.
Social Media and Public Accounts
Since 2017, civil servants are required to disclose to their employer the addresses of any websites on which they post publicly accessible information about themselves. Failure to provide that information, or incomplete disclosure, may result in a disciplinary sanction up to and including dismissal.
What must be disclosed:
- Personal accounts on social networks — yes (VKontakte, Instagram, Facebook, etc.)
- Dating site profiles with personal photographs — yes (even under a pseudonym)
- Messenger applications (WhatsApp, Viber, Skype) — no
- Academic publications and expert commentary — no
- Platforms on which the civil servant does not personally post content — no
Changing a username or profile photo does not eliminate the obligation to report the account. The designated compliance officer within the agency is responsible for verifying and retaining such disclosures.
Outside Employment and Additional Income
A common misconception: civil servants are prohibited from any form of outside employment.
In fact, the prohibition applies only to additional activity that:
- is funded from foreign sources, or
- creates a conflict of interest between the agency’s interests and those of the outside employer
In all other cases, a civil servant is merely required to notify the employer of the intent to work concurrently — no permission is required.
Courts have upheld this position. In practice, however, some agencies and regions go beyond what the law requires, demanding “permission” rather than “notification.” If you have been unlawfully denied outside employment, that constitutes a violation of your employment rights and may be challenged.
What to Do When Your Rights Are Violated
If an employer demands what the law does not require, or imposes a sanction for lawful conduct, that constitutes a violation of employment law. Available remedies include:
- Appeal to the superior authority or to a court
- Complaint to the labor inspectorate (trudovaya inspektsiya)
- Complaint to the prosecutor’s office (prokuratura)
If you are a civil servant and have faced unlawful demands from your employer, we can help you assess the situation and, where necessary, defend your rights in court or before supervisory authorities.