The meeting was held in preparation for the Government’s annual report to the State Duma.
Mikhail Mishustin’s opening remarks
Remarks by Alexei Nechayev, head of the New People faction
Mikhail Mishustin's meeting with the New People deputies in the State Duma
Mikhail Mishustin's meeting with the New People deputies in the State Duma. Alexei Nechayev, head of the New People Party faction
Mikhail Mishustin's meeting with the New People deputies in the State Duma
Mikhail Mishustin's meeting with the New People deputies in the State Duma. Alexei Nechayev, head of the New People Party faction
Mikhail Mishustin's meeting with the New People deputies in the State Duma
Mikhail Mishustin's meeting with the New People deputies in the State Duma
Excerpts from the transcript:
Mikhail Mishustin: Mr Nechayev, colleagues,
Today, our meeting with the New People faction concludes the series of consultations that traditionally precede the Government’s report to the State Duma.
The President noted that representatives of the New People faction put forward specific programmes and initiatives, including proposals for the development of science, education, and healthcare, as well as a wide range of measures related to the implementation of innovative technologies and support for entrepreneurship. These areas are among the Government’s priorities, which enhances the effectiveness of our joint work on legislative initiatives. The faction has demonstrated itself to be a constructive partner in discussions on socially significant issues, including the draft federal budget for the current year and the subsequent two-year period. During interaction between the Government and Parliament, amendments proposed by your parliamentary group were supported, providing for additional funding and subsidies totaling over 5.5 billion roubles for small technological companies, engineering and innovation development, as well as youth entrepreneurship programmes. These decisions create broader opportunities for growth across various sectors of the economy.
We can see the same practical, result-oriented approach when the State Duma considers regulations adopted in the interests of participants in the special military operation and their families. The faction has supported these initiatives, voting in favour of expanding guarantees for our defenders.
It is also important that you are implementing advanced formats of engagement with them. The programme proposed by the New People Party, which trains veterans in digital platform skills, will undoubtedly assist young people who are returning home in securing employment and adapting to a rapidly changing labour market.
Your faction organises its work around the needs of citizens. When introducing draft laws, you frequently and effectively cooperate with other deputies and representatives from other associations, like in the fine-turning the current legislation aimed at improving convenience for students through the transition of student ID cards and grade books to electronic format. I believe that measure has been positively received by the country’s student community.
Your deputies have also taken a systematic approach to improving regulatory frameworks in the strategically important hospitality sector. Under the leadership of Sangadzhi Tarbayev, a member of your faction and chairman of the relevant State Duma committee, substantial work has been carried out to protect lawful entrepreneurial activity from unfair competition. Amendments have expanded and clarified the scope of services within the industry, defining the concept of a “tourism product” to include transportation services, tour guiding and interpreting, and instruction services. These adjustments strengthen consumer protection while enhancing accountability among companies working in the industry.
Overall, the hospitality industry is of great importance to the country. Investment in tourism currently demonstrates one of the highest multiplier effects among related sectors of the economy and, accordingly, contributes significantly to regional development.
I would like to underscore several proposals put forward by the faction that hold significant importance.
One such highly sought-after initiative was presented in the interests of motorists. The pay-out amount under compulsory motor third-party liability insurance has been significantly increased for registering road traffic accidents under the European Accident Statement. This allows matters to be resolved on the spot, saving drivers time and sparing their nerves – an effective step towards the civilised resolution of disputes.
Another of your projects, which has already come into force as an effective law, alleviates people of unnecessary paperwork. To achieve this, the procedure for filing a cassation appeal has been simplified by removing the requirement to attach copies of all court decisions. This measure should, of course, expedite legal proceedings.
Many proposals from the New People party have become practical tools for addressing citizens’ concerns. They facilitate dialogue, including through feedback, which the President always emphasises.
Thank you. Please, Mr Nechayev, you have the floor.
Mikhail Mishustin's meeting with the New People deputies in the State Duma. Alexei Nechayev, head of the New People Party faction
Alexei Nechayev: Mr Prime Minister, colleagues,
Under your leadership, the Government continues to tackle challenges that, in modern history, I believe, no one has ever faced before. What is important to us is that, despite the complexity of these tasks, you and your colleagues remain open to new ideas and approaches. Thanks to this, we are collectively advancing smart protectionism, among other things. To date, this has brought an additional 150 billion roubles into the Russian budget, including 42 billion roubles in the sectors proposed and developed by the New People party.
This has supported our producers, who have successfully replaced Western companies in a number of markets.
Together, we are fostering youth entrepreneurship and introducing innovative solutions in ecology, housing and utilities, science, and education. You have supported our initiatives in healthcare. Thank you for your constructive work. All the positive remarks you have made about our party would not have been possible without collaboration with the Government.
The entire country supports the goals set by the President of Russia: technological leadership, growth in social welfare, and the fulfilment of the objectives of the special military operation. All this is being – and will continue to be – achieved by people. At our meetings with entrepreneurs, students, volunteers, IT specialists, and engineers, we see that among the emotions they experience, there is a sense of anxiety.
Therefore, the New People party has developed a series of measures that, in our view, will help alleviate this anxiety and allow more attention and energy to be devoted to constructive work.
First, let us introduce a moratorium on new requirements, fines, and taxes for entrepreneurs. We already raised taxes in 2024 and 2025. Let us pause. Let us follow the example of the self-employed. You said that there would be no further changes until 2028. People are confident that this will be the case. They have believed it and calmed down. I think this approach will bring more revenue to the budget than discussions about the need for further tax increases. Globally, we see that freezing taxes – and even discussions about them – leads to an increase in investments of around 2 percent of GDP per year.
Second, we propose introducing a tax payment deferral for all small businesses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government introduced such a deferral for microenterprises. This was immensely helpful at the time. It is not necessary to apply this universally, but it would assist businesses currently facing difficulties and cash flow gaps. Entrepreneurs, especially small ones, need time to adapt to new tax requirements. Indeed, we are already seeing cash flow gaps emerge, and we do not want these businesses to close. It is better for the budget to receive the money later, as was the case in 2020 and 2021. Moreover, we observe that not many businesses avail themselves of this option. When businesses adapt, it is better to receive something later than nothing at all if someone goes bankrupt.
Third, we propose adjusting the requirements of the Central Bank and working with the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring to prevent banks from being hyper-cautious, as they currently are, and from blocking all transactions they deem suspicious. Yes, today the Federal Tax Service is working to improve tax compliance and eliminate grey – not to mention black – areas in the economy, to ensure greater transparency. This is absolutely the right approach, and we support it. The issue arises when these measures translate into banking requirements, which then lead to… Well, banks can be understood – they are indeed hyper-cautious. As a result, nearly 3 million accounts were blocked in January. Some have since been unblocked, but this remains an alarmingly high figure. Banks are now suspecting people of fraud even when they attempt to pay their mortgages. A typical case: a mortgage is taken out with one bank, the borrower receives their salary in another, transfers money between their own accounts – and suddenly, their mobile banking access is blocked. Why? Because transferring money to oneself is now considered suspicious. In my opinion, this is an excessive requirement. As a result, people end up paying penalties for late mortgage payments, and banks do not even compensate for these losses.
There is an even more absurd story. Just recently, in January, a Moscow student had her account frozen after buying a bun. She transferred 500 roubles to her own card to make the purchase – and immediately had her card and all her other modest accounts blocked. She filed an appeal, but the processing time was five days. So, she was left without any money. Individual entrepreneurs are also facing more frequent account freezes, leading to contract breaches and missed deadlines. I propose publishing clear guidelines on what is and is not permissible – and ensuring that blocks are lifted within three hours of all required documents being submitted. Additionally, those who suffer unjustified blocks should be compensated. People should not live in fear that tomorrow they might wake up penniless due to some banking algorithm. This is our shared demand to the Central Bank and our call for collaboration with the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring.
Fourth, we propose declaring 2026 a year free of new prohibitions. It is high time people were allowed to make their plans. Every month, it seems, another ban, restriction, or fine is introduced. When I speak to people, they are utterly bewildered about what is allowed and what is not. This, too, is a kind of hidden tax or charge on the future. It is detrimental when there is no certainty about tomorrow – when anxiety lingers that something might change tomorrow. Prohibitions erode trust. People begin to doubt whether the state is truly on their side – as it should be, and as it fundamentally is. Because trust is paramount. And the growth of trust is directly linked to the country’s development.
I believe this is worth trying. Let us surprise everyone. A year without prohibitions. I doubt anyone here would object.
The Government, like the entire country, has been working tirelessly for six years. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to think together about the future and listen to one another. It is telling that ideas we proposed one, two, or three years ago have now become actionable solutions. Naturally, none of this would be possible without joint efforts.
Mr Prime Minister, colleagues, I thank you and the entire Government team. Let us continue to work together with the same openness and productivity.
