This article considers the relevance and implementation of European approaches to quality assurance in the context of the Russian educational system. It covers the issues of transformation of the higher education system during the post‐Soviet period, specific features of the state accreditation system, the impact of the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) (http://www.enqa.eu/files/ESG_3edition%20(2).pdf)on Russian Quality Assurance system and trends in quality assurance of higher education.