diff --git a/backend/yandex/yandex.go b/backend/yandex/yandex.go
index 3a4ba0ee3..edab61690 100644
--- a/backend/yandex/yandex.go
+++ b/backend/yandex/yandex.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs/config/configmap"
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs/config/configstruct"
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs/config/obscure"
+	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs/encodings"
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs/fserrors"
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs/hash"
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/lib/oauthutil"
@@ -29,6 +30,8 @@ import (
 	"golang.org/x/oauth2"
 )
 
+const enc = encodings.Yandex
+
 //oAuth
 const (
 	rcloneClientID              = "ac39b43b9eba4cae8ffb788c06d816a8"
@@ -207,7 +210,7 @@ func (f *Fs) readMetaDataForPath(ctx context.Context, path string, options *api.
 		Parameters: url.Values{},
 	}
 
-	opts.Parameters.Set("path", path)
+	opts.Parameters.Set("path", enc.FromStandardPath(path))
 
 	if options.SortMode != nil {
 		opts.Parameters.Set("sort", options.SortMode.String())
@@ -234,6 +237,7 @@ func (f *Fs) readMetaDataForPath(ctx context.Context, path string, options *api.
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	info.Name = enc.ToStandardName(info.Name)
 	return &info, nil
 }
 
@@ -360,6 +364,7 @@ func (f *Fs) List(ctx context.Context, dir string) (entries fs.DirEntries, err e
 		if info.ResourceType == "dir" {
 			//list all subdirs
 			for _, element := range info.Embedded.Items {
+				element.Name = enc.ToStandardName(element.Name)
 				remote := path.Join(dir, element.Name)
 				entry, err := f.itemToDirEntry(ctx, remote, &element)
 				if err != nil {
@@ -458,14 +463,18 @@ func (f *Fs) CreateDir(ctx context.Context, path string) (err error) {
 		NoResponse: true,
 	}
 
-	opts.Parameters.Set("path", path)
+	// If creating a directory with a : use (undocumented) disk: prefix
+	if strings.IndexRune(path, ':') >= 0 {
+		path = "disk:" + path
+	}
+	opts.Parameters.Set("path", enc.FromStandardPath(path))
 
 	err = f.pacer.Call(func() (bool, error) {
 		resp, err = f.srv.Call(ctx, &opts)
 		return shouldRetry(resp, err)
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		//fmt.Printf("CreateDir Error: %s\n", err.Error())
+		// fmt.Printf("CreateDir %q Error: %s\n", path, err.Error())
 		return err
 	}
 	// fmt.Printf("...Id %q\n", *info.Id)
@@ -572,7 +581,7 @@ func (f *Fs) delete(ctx context.Context, path string, hardDelete bool) (err erro
 		Parameters: url.Values{},
 	}
 
-	opts.Parameters.Set("path", path)
+	opts.Parameters.Set("path", enc.FromStandardPath(path))
 	opts.Parameters.Set("permanently", strconv.FormatBool(hardDelete))
 
 	var resp *http.Response
@@ -644,8 +653,8 @@ func (f *Fs) copyOrMove(ctx context.Context, method, src, dst string, overwrite
 		Parameters: url.Values{},
 	}
 
-	opts.Parameters.Set("from", src)
-	opts.Parameters.Set("path", dst)
+	opts.Parameters.Set("from", enc.FromStandardPath(src))
+	opts.Parameters.Set("path", enc.FromStandardPath(dst))
 	opts.Parameters.Set("overwrite", strconv.FormatBool(overwrite))
 
 	var resp *http.Response
@@ -794,12 +803,12 @@ func (f *Fs) PublicLink(ctx context.Context, remote string) (link string, err er
 	}
 	opts := rest.Opts{
 		Method:     "PUT",
-		Path:       path,
+		Path:       enc.FromStandardPath(path),
 		Parameters: url.Values{},
 		NoResponse: true,
 	}
 
-	opts.Parameters.Set("path", f.filePath(remote))
+	opts.Parameters.Set("path", enc.FromStandardPath(f.filePath(remote)))
 
 	var resp *http.Response
 	err = f.pacer.Call(func() (bool, error) {
@@ -985,7 +994,7 @@ func (o *Object) setCustomProperty(ctx context.Context, property string, value s
 		NoResponse: true,
 	}
 
-	opts.Parameters.Set("path", o.filePath())
+	opts.Parameters.Set("path", enc.FromStandardPath(o.filePath()))
 	rcm := map[string]interface{}{
 		property: value,
 	}
@@ -1022,7 +1031,7 @@ func (o *Object) Open(ctx context.Context, options ...fs.OpenOption) (in io.Read
 		Parameters: url.Values{},
 	}
 
-	opts.Parameters.Set("path", o.filePath())
+	opts.Parameters.Set("path", enc.FromStandardPath(o.filePath()))
 
 	err = o.fs.pacer.Call(func() (bool, error) {
 		resp, err = o.fs.srv.CallJSON(ctx, &opts, nil, &dl)
@@ -1059,7 +1068,7 @@ func (o *Object) upload(ctx context.Context, in io.Reader, overwrite bool, mimeT
 		Parameters: url.Values{},
 	}
 
-	opts.Parameters.Set("path", o.filePath())
+	opts.Parameters.Set("path", enc.FromStandardPath(o.filePath()))
 	opts.Parameters.Set("overwrite", strconv.FormatBool(overwrite))
 
 	err = o.fs.pacer.Call(func() (bool, error) {
diff --git a/docs/content/yandex.md b/docs/content/yandex.md
index 78c4eb589..bbe57ad9a 100644
--- a/docs/content/yandex.md
+++ b/docs/content/yandex.md
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@ date: "2015-12-30"
 
 [Yandex Disk](https://disk.yandex.com) is a cloud storage solution created by [Yandex](https://yandex.com).
 
-Yandex paths may be as deep as required, eg `remote:directory/subdirectory`.
-
 Here is an example of making a yandex configuration.  First run
 
     rclone config
@@ -85,6 +83,8 @@ excess files in the path.
 
     rclone sync /home/local/directory remote:directory
 
+Yandex paths may be as deep as required, eg `remote:directory/subdirectory`.
+
 ### Modified time ###
 
 Modified times are supported and are stored accurate to 1 ns in custom
@@ -105,6 +105,14 @@ does not take any path arguments.
 To view your current quota you can use the `rclone about remote:`
 command which will display your usage limit (quota) and the current usage.
 
+#### Restricted filename characters
+
+The [default restricted characters set](/overview/#restricted-characters)
+are replaced.
+
+Invalid UTF-8 bytes will also be [replaced](/overview/#invalid-utf8),
+as they can't be used in JSON strings.
+
 ### Limitations ###
 
 When uploading very large files (bigger than about 5GB) you will need
diff --git a/fs/encodings/encodings.go b/fs/encodings/encodings.go
index 6764bd3c1..cd23c0b15 100644
--- a/fs/encodings/encodings.go
+++ b/fs/encodings/encodings.go
@@ -342,6 +342,14 @@ const Sharefile = encoder.MultiEncoder(
 		encoder.EncodeLeftPeriod |
 		encoder.EncodeInvalidUtf8)
 
+// Yandex is the encoding used by the yandex backend
+//
+// Of the control characters \t \n \r are allowed
+// it doesn't seem worth making an exception for this
+const Yandex = encoder.MultiEncoder(
+	uint(Display) |
+		encoder.EncodeInvalidUtf8)
+
 // ByName returns the encoder for a give backend name or nil
 func ByName(name string) encoder.Encoder {
 	switch strings.ToLower(name) {
@@ -403,7 +411,8 @@ func ByName(name string) encoder.Encoder {
 	case "swift":
 		return Swift
 	//case "webdav":
-	//case "yandex":
+	case "yandex":
+		return Yandex
 	default:
 		return nil
 	}
diff --git a/fs/encodings/encodings_noencode.go b/fs/encodings/encodings_noencode.go
index e89a4dfaf..932c86aca 100644
--- a/fs/encodings/encodings_noencode.go
+++ b/fs/encodings/encodings_noencode.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ const (
 	S3                 = Base
 	Sharefile          = Base
 	Swift              = Base
+	Yandex             = Base
 )
 
 // ByName returns the encoder for a give backend name or nil