Page 33 - RusRPTApr20

2.13 Politics - misc
Russia's Constitutional Court approved constitutional amendments proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 16 that he proposed during his January 15 state of the nation speech that would increase his powers, and amendments introduced last week that would reset his term clock to zero that clear the way for him to stay in office until 2036. The legislation sets Putin's previous presidential term count back to zero because of the sweeping changes to the constitution, which sparked protests in Russian cities. Putin's current term, his second consecutive six-year term, is slated to end in 2024. The existing constitution prohibits presidents from serving more than two consecutive terms, but the amendments would enable him to seek a fifth overall presidential term in 2024, and conceivably a sixth in 2030.
The referendum to approve the constitutional changes was delayed from April 22 to sometime in the summer, but with no fixed date as of the end of March.
On March 31, lawmakers in Russia’s State Duma adopted the revised and final drafts of legislation that imposes new administrative penalties on violations of quarantine and the dissemination of false information about coronavirus, as well as criminal sanctions for spreading fake news and violating sanitary-epidemiological rules. Amongst the fines are:
Fines between 15,000 and 40,000 rubles ($190 and $510) for individuals Fines between 50,000 and 150,000 rubles ($640 and $1,915) for public officials
Fines between 50,000 and 150,000 rubles ($640 and $1,915) for the self- employed or the suspension of all operations for up to 90 days
Fines between 200,000 and 500,000 rubles ($2,555 and $6,385) for legal entities or the suspension of all operations for up to 90 days
And there is a jail sentence for manslaughter if it can be shown two or more people have died from infection as a result of ignoring he quarantine regulations.
Russia has earmarked almost $18bn to battle the coronavirus pandemic, the prime minister said April 1 as Moscow imposed a strict lockdown. The finance ministry "has reserved RUB1.4 trillion ($17.8bn) in all for fighting the spread of the coronavirus and carrying out anti-crisis measures," Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin told President Vladimir Putin during a televised video conference with his cabinet. Mishustin told the president, who is working remotely due to the virus, that the government is drafting new measures that focus on propping up regional economies and supporting small- and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs).
The governmental commission for economic policy headed by Deputy PM Andrei Belousov expanded the list of systemic companies from 200 to 600, Vedomosti daily reported on March 23 citing the copy of the list. Expanding the list and performing stress-tests on the selected companies is likely in preparation for reinforcing consumer and social infrastructure as the government prepares for coronavirus (COVID-19) impact. Previously the 200 companies on the list, first drafted in 2008 and reconfirmed in 2015, accounted for 70% of Russia's GDP and 20% of total employment. The government did not comment on the criteria of expansion of the list to Vedomosti.
33 RUSSIA Country Report April 2020 www.intellinews.com