GOST R 52872-2019

ACAA Act (2018:1937) Act No. 99/2019 Act on Digital Accessibility Act on Welfare Act XXVI of 1998 ADA Anti-Discrimination Law AODA Argentina - 2010 Austria - 2017 Austria - 2019 Belgium - 2018 Belgium - EAA BITV 2.0 Brazil - 2014 Brazilian - 2015 Broadcasting Services Act Canada China China - 1990 China - YD/T 1761-2008 Colombia Croatia CVAA Cyprus - 2019 DDA Decree No. 2019-768 Decree-Law No. 83/2018 Denmark Denmark - 2018 Denmark - EAA Digital Republic Act Digital Services Act Discrimination Act (2008:567) E-Accessibility Policy E-Government Act EN 301 549 Equality Act 2010 - UK Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act Estonia Estonia - 2019 Estonia - Society Services Act European Union - 2016 European Union - EAA Executive Order no. 904 Federal Law No. 29 Federal Law No. 419-FZ Finland Finland - Non-Discrimination Act Framework Act France - 2005 France - 2015 France - EAA Germany - 2002 Germany - BFSG Germany - EAA GOST R 52872-2019 Government Decree 62/2015 Greece Greece - EAA Hong Kong Human Rights Act 1993 Hungary India - 2009 Indonesia Ireland Ireland - 2004 Ireland - 2005 Ireland - Accessibility Directive Israel Italy Italy - 2004 Italy - Equal Rights Japan Japan - Basic Act Disabilities JIS X 8341-3 Landscape Act (2019:7) Latvia Law 1618 of 2013 Law 20.422 Law 4591/2019 Law N° 2016-1321 Article 106 Law No. 26,653 Law No. 28530 Law No. 29973 Lithuania - 2000 Luxembourg Malaysia - 2008 Malta Mexico Netherlands Netherlands - 2003 Netherlands - 2018 Netherlands - Article 429q New Zealand Norway - 2022 Norway - ICT Nova Scotia Accessibility Act NTC 5854 P028 - Accessibility Standard Philippines Poland - 2019 Poland - EAA Portugal - EAA Procurement Standard Guidance Public Information Act Republic Act No. 10372 RGAA Romania No. 112/2018 Royal Decree 1112/2018 RPWD Act Russia - 2014 S.I. No. 358/2020 Section 255 - US Section 508 - US Singapore Slovenia - 2018 South Africa Spain - 2012 Stanca Law Standard MS 1183 Switzerland - 2002 Taiwan - 2021 Thailand Thailand - ICT Policy UDC UK - Public Sector United States - 2024 Vietnam WCAG Adoption Policy WCAG Compliance Mandate XIII-1590

GOST R 52872-2019: Russia’s Digital Accessibility Standard

Overview

GOST R 52872-2019 is Russia’s national standard for digital accessibility. It ensures that websites, software, and digital content are usable by people with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments. It builds on the earlier GOST R 52872-2007 and aligns more closely with international guidelines like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)210.

This law applies to government agencies, public organisations, and private businesses that provide digital services in Russia. While enforcement has historically been weak, the standard sets important technical and design rules to make online content more inclusive.

Key Requirements in Simple Terms

1. Text Alternatives for Non-Text Content

  • Images, videos, and graphics must include descriptive text (alt text) so screen readers can explain them to visually impaired users.

2. Avoid CAPTCHAs That Block Screen Readers

  • Websites should not use image-based CAPTCHAs unless there’s an audio or text-based alternative.

3. Structured and Simple Layouts

  • Content should be organised with clear headings, readable fonts, and logical navigation. Avoid complex tables or nested frames.

4. PDFs Must Be Accessible

  • If a PDF is used, it must have searchable text (not just a scanned image) and proper tagging for screen readers.

5. Compatibility with Assistive Technologies

  • Websites and apps must use tools like screen readers, magnifiers, and voice commands.

Important Dates

  • Enacted: April 1, 2020 (replacing the 2007 version).
  • Updates: The 2019 version expanded coverage to mobile apps and other digital interfaces, not just websites.

Compliance Challenges

While GOST R 52872-2019 sets clear rules, enforcement remains inconsistent. Many Russian websites still lack accessibility features, and there’s no widespread certification process212. However, advocacy groups push for better adoption, especially in education and government services.

Reference

This explanation is based on the official GOST R 52872-2019 standard. For the full document (in Russian), visit:
https://docs.cntd.ru/document/1200167693