Russia to videotape driving tests and photograph candidates

Russia is changing the rules for its driving test: candidates will be photographed during the theory exam, and the process will be recorded on audio and video. The changes, set out in a government resolution, take effect March 1, 2027.An automated system will photograph candidates during the theory exam. The system will also record video in real time, capturing the workstations of both test-takers and examiners.Part of the theory exam’s rules changed in May 2026. “The use of photo and audio communication devices and electronic computing equipment is already banned. That ban is in effect, but photographing candidates will only take effect starting March 1, 2027,” Alexander Kholodov, a member of the Public Chamber’s commission on security and cooperation with the ONK, told the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.Starting March 1, 2027, candidates will no longer need to bring a paper medical certificate to the exam if the certificate is in the unified database. They will be able to complete the exam even if the certificate has expired, though the license will not be issued until they obtain a new one.At Meduza, we are committed to transparency about our use of artificial intelligence in the newsroom. The story you’re reading was written by one of our living, breathing journalists and translated from Russian using an AI model configured to follow our strict editorial standards. This translation process is the result of extensive testing and refinements to ensure our English-language coverage is timely and accurate. A Meduza editor reviews every draft before publication.If you find any errors in this translation, please contact us at [email protected].To read Meduza’s exclusive content in English, please subscribe to our newsletter.