The average new business applicant in Russia must deal with a multitude of agencies at both the federal and the local levels and obtain approval of myriad registration and licensing forms. In countries like Russia (high complexity ranking (1)) you have to be directly presented locally. There are number of ways to establish yourself locally (2) and depending on the industry in which you want to be presented and investments available the company has to choose the best alternative. Another option is to use a distributor. This is less expensive in terms of capital investment and ongoing cost, but carries a price of a different nature: the effective loss of the territory and control of customers. Either way, getting into export is a risky business.
The best way to obtain broad information concerning the market is to contact local Consulting companies (PricewaterhouseCoopers, Erns&Young, and Cap Gemini). Those well known agency is already widely presented in many Russian regions.
Nevertheless to mention that Russian business culture is hieratical structured. Decision making people higher up in the hierarchy have authority over their subordinate. More information about Russian business culture is usually available on I-net (3).
Corruption as a barrier to business entry in Russia—as in many other transition economies—is pervasive: virtually all firms pay bribes to tax inspectors, customs officers, and a host of local bureaucrats who visit firms several times a year.
(1) Doing business in Russia
(2) Hodgetts, Luthans, Doh, International Management, Chapter 9
(3) http://www.homeworklang.com/russian-business.htm