pension growth, debt write-off for SVO participants, restrictions for migrants: Politics: Russia: Lenta.ru

On December 1, a number of laws and new regulations come into force in Russia that will affect many people living in Russia. Thus, some Russians’ pensions will increase noticeably, participants in a special military operation (SVO) will have their debts written off, migrants arriving in the country will be required to take biometrics, prices for railway transportation will change, and a seasonal ban on driving summer tires will come into force. Read more about these and other changes in the Lenta.ru article.

Some Russians’ pensions will increase

From December 1, some Russians will have their pensions increased. This applies to those residents of the country who turned 80 in November.

The additional payment to the insurance pension will increase exactly twice – to 16,269 rubles 76 kopecks. A similar increase awaits citizens who received group I disability in November, regardless of age. However, if reaching 80 years of age in November coincides with the decision MSEC about the appointment of group I, the pension will be increased only on one of the grounds.

SVO participants will have their debts written off

December 1 comes into force law on writing off debt on loans to some participants in a special military operation on Ukraine.

According to the new norm, debts should be written off for Russians called up for military service by mobilization, undergoing conscription, or who have entered into a contract with the Ministry of Defense from December 1, 2024 for a period of at least a year, as well as their spouses. In this case, the amount of loan obligations should not exceed 10 million rubles.

In addition, from December 1 in Russia, SVO participants will be released from collection of an enforcement fee amounting to 7 percent of the collected amount or the amount of property. Those decisions that were previously made against military personnel will be cancelled.

Migrants will be required to take biometrics

From December 1 in a number of Russian regions will begin an experiment on the mandatory collection of biometric data from foreigners and stateless persons arriving in Russia. At the first stage, which will last until June 1, 2025, it will be carried out at the Moscow transport hub, as well as at one of the checkpoints in the Orenburg region and in some other places.

The second stage of the experiment will take place from June 30, 2025 to June 30, 2026, when, as expected, this practice will cover all checkpoints across the state border.

Seasonal ban on summer tires comes into force

During December, January and February, driving cars with summer tires will again be prohibited in Russia. About the seasonal administrative fine for this offense earlier in a conversation with Lenta.ru reminded lawyer Sergey Radko.

At the same time, the official representative Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia Irina Volk a year ago she stated that State Traffic Inspectorate is not going to fine motorists who did not have time to “change their shoes”.

In the fall of 2023, the head of the Russian State Traffic Inspectorate Mikhail Chernikov Also statedthat the State Traffic Inspectorate is not going to use the opportunity to fine drivers for summer tires in the cold season.

At the same time, he stated that so far he is not aware of any cases where someone has been fined for driving on summer tires in winter.

Roskomnadzor has tightened regulations regarding VPN services

Roskomnadzor banned dissemination in Russia of scientific, scientific and technical information and statistics about VPN services to bypass blocking. The corresponding order of the department comes into force on November 30 and will be valid until September 1, 2029.

The document states that information about VPNs to provide secure remote access will not be prohibited.

The previous version of the order, which was in force since March 1, stipulated that the criteria for inclusion in the register of prohibited resources do not apply to scientific, scientific, technical and statistical information about methods of access to portals blocked in Russia.

Rail transportation will become more expensive

From December 1st tariffs Russian Railways for freight transportation will grow up by 13.8 percent, for passengers – by 11.6 percent. The new principles for calculating tariffs will take into account not consumer, but industrial inflation. They involve the use of a composite index, which will take into account the price index of industry, fuel, electricity, and so on.

Freight tariff indexation already includes targeted surcharges. The existing allowances, namely 1.5 percent for adjusting tax legislation, 7 percent for major repairs and 1 percent for transport security, will be fixed in the price list on a permanent basis from December 1 and included in the indexed base. That is, they will move from the category of temporary to permanent. Discounts for coal miners, canceled in 2022, will not return either.

The deadline for paying taxes has come to an end – those who are late will be charged penalties

December 1 ends the period for paying taxes on property of individuals, land and transport taxes, as well as amounts of personal income tax (NDFL) upon receipt of the corresponding notification. Since December 1 is Sunday, we are actually talking about Monday, December 2.

For those who do not have time to pay all due taxes before the start of winter, penalties will begin to accrue after this period has expired.