Agenda: The rules of writing off the regions' debt on budget loans, social support for military pensioners.
Government meeting
Government meeting
Government meeting
Mikhail Mishustin’s opening remarks:
Good afternoon, colleagues.
Before getting down to the agenda, I would like to inform you about a decision we have taken.
The creation of a modern infrastructure is a basic condition for economic growth. It is what the federal Government and local officials are focused on. However, such a major goal involves the implementation of comprehensive programmes, which requires resources.
As per the President’s instructions, we will help the regions with this matter. Now, they will be able to write off two thirds of their debts on budget loans. However, there is a condition: at least half of these funds are to be invested in infrastructure projects in the housing and utilities sector. The rest is to be used to support investments, the purchase of public transport vehicles, the resettlement of people from dilapidated housing, and several other sectors.
In addition, the regions with small budgets will be able to invest these funds in the implementation of national projects and use them to finance expenses related to the special military operation. Regions in the Far Eastern Federal District and the Arctic will be able to invest these funds in urban development plans.
The rules for writing off these debts have been approved. I would like the regional heads to submit the necessary documents by 1 March to the Finance Ministry for the purpose of signing an additional agreement.
Mr Khusnullin (Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin), I ask you to personally supervise this issue.
Our agenda today includes an item on support for our citizens, notably military pensioners. The President has emphasised that their well-being, alongside social justice, should be a clear priority for all levels of government.
In October last year, the so-called military pensions were increased by 5.1 percent. However, the actual year-end inflation rate was higher than forecast at 9.5 percent.
Therefore, acting on the President’s instructions, we have prepared the necessary adjustments to the law on increasing military pensions by an additional 4.4 percent as of 1 January 2025. Additional payments will be made for the first two months of the year.
We have earmarked the necessary funds for fulfilling these obligations.
Another item concerns strengthening the social protection of our citizens.
The Government previously drafted amendments to legislation aimed at supporting militias in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, so they receive two pensions if they were wounded during hostilities, an old-age or retirement pension, and a disability pension.
The State Duma adopted this bill in the first reading last week. Today we will discuss the amendments that have been prepared for the second reading.
According to them, members of volunteer (militia) units who were injured on the battlefield will not need to submit an application to receive disability pensions. This procedure is already stipulated for the personnel of the armed forces. They will not have to submit any documents because the social protection authorities can request them through the state information service.
We will also improve the procedure for paying out the pension accruals of the deceased participants in the special military operation.
Colleagues,
Supporting our military personnel and their families has been and remains a priority for the Government. Absolutely all their problems must be addressed without any delay.
