Russian Parliamentarians Adopted New Package of Laws to Support Citizens in Fight Against Coronavirus

At its plenary session on 17 April, the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation approved the laws aimed at supporting citizens and businesses during the difficult economic conditions due to the pandemic. The documents were previously approved by the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

One of the adopted documents provides for the federal system of monitoring the efficiency and exercise of the powers delegated to the regions, including those concerning social allowances to the unemployed and monthly payments to the families with children.

The amendments to the law on state guarantees on the loans to enterprises will enable the regions to allocate more flexibly the federal resources and provide interregional support to the companies.

The amended legislation on social security for the families having financial difficulties due to the job loss enable families to receive allowances and payments, including for the children aged from three to seven, disregarding previous earnings and based on the family income at the time of the application.

MPs and senators also approved the amendments to the Law on Protection of Competition, which will facilitate the deployment of production in the penitentiary institutions. The law is aimed at promoting prisoners’ labour adaptation, which may result in the production of highly needed goods.

The amendments to the Tax Code stipulate that the expenses of the organization for purchase of personal protective equipment, testing and medical equipment will be taken into account while counting income taxes. Additional allowances to the medical personnel working with COVID-19 patients will be free of the income tax.

According to the amendments to the Law on Experiment on Development of Resort Infrastructure in the Republic of Crimea, Altai Krai, Krasnodar Krai and Stavropol Krai, those regions may suspend resort tax collection.

The Parliament has also adopted the law on facilitation of the defense industry contracts, which could retain the possibility of the small and medium-size businesses to compete for the federal and municipal contracts.

Photo: council.gov.ru; duma.gov.ru