search
State Duma
Trends
- 1
Several Russian local news stories are circulating around the word 'podyez', the apartment building stairwell. In Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, a man with a criminal record stole a bicycle from a stairwell, rode it, then sold it. Meanwhile, the State Duma clarified that security cameras cannot be installed in a stairwell without neighbours' consent, and Volgograd residents received guidance on new rules for meter verification.
- 2
Dairy products in Russia have become cheaper, according to regional reporting from Tula, while State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin proposed sharply raising taxes on palm oil and oysters. The combination has drawn attention to food prices and the quality of dairy products, since palm oil is often used as a cheaper substitute for milk fat in Russian food production.
- 3
The Russian government has submitted a draft federal budget covering the next three years to the State Duma, with a total deficit of almost 16 trillion roubles. Parliamentary hearings are under way, including in Dagestan with local officials taking part. Reuters reports social spending will be cut by 7% in 2027, healthcare by 6.8% and education by 6%, drawing public attention.
- 4
Russian lawmakers have proposed raising the maximum service age for women in the military from 45 to 50 years. The initiative was submitted to the State Duma and reported by Interfax, URA.RU and Kazan-based outlet Business Online. Separately, Vietnamese commune police in Ca Dam coordinated preliminary medical examinations for conscripts to the army and police for 2027, as military service topics draw attention in both countries.
- 5
Lukoil's board of directors recommended an interim dividend of 535 rubles per share for the first nine months of 2026, in line with market expectations. Investors are also tracking a new five-tier tax on deposits and dividends approved by the State Duma, with a top rate of 22%, while VTB's finance director said the bank may pay out up to 25% of profit in coming years and interest in Gazprom dividends has faded.
- 6
Russians are searching for information about the working week as the country heads into an unusually long stretch of days off: 11 consecutive New Year holidays. The State Duma has addressed the practical fallout, explaining how the extended break will be reflected in workers' salaries. Discussions are focusing on pay calculations, how non-working days are compensated, and when normal working schedules resume after the holiday period.
- 7
Russian officials and media are discussing the high-speed rail line planned between Moscow and St Petersburg, with new figures revealing how many people are involved in its construction. In the State Duma, lawmakers compared the pace of work to Chinese speed, also touching on the planned Moscow–Minsk high-speed line as part of Russia's broader rail ambitions.
- 8
A bill raising the fine for driving without a licence to 30,000 rubles has been submitted to the State Duma, with reports saying penalties could reach 50,000 rubles. Alongside this, fines for selling petrol to under-16s in Chelyabinsk region, repeat fare dodging in Orenburg region, and smoking and alcohol violations are set to increase. Authorities also propose raising administrative fines for political offences, in some cases fiftyfold.
- 9
Debt is back in focus in Russia from several angles at once. Finance Mail reports that bonds now make up a record 31% of funds raised, signaling heavier corporate reliance on borrowed money. Meanwhile, bailiffs tracked down a hermit hiding in the forest from his debts, and a Tver region man was convicted over a million-ruble aliments debt. The government also submitted its next three-year budget draft to the State Duma.
- 10
President Vladimir Putin has been invited to attend the first sitting of the State Duma's ninth convocation, scheduled for 9 September, according to Interfax. The opening session will mark the start of the new parliament's work following recent elections. The news is circulating widely in Russia as attention turns to the Duma's leadership choices and legislative agenda.