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Russia has exhausted its Reserve Fund
As of January 1, 2018, the Reserve Fund of Russia no longer exists. In early December there was about $17 billion remaining in the fund, but it was decided that it would be combined with the National Welfare Fund and all additional revenues from the oil and gas industry would be sent there, reports news agency Rosbalt.
The reserve fund was established in 2008. It was to become a source to finance the budget deficit in the event of a sharp drop in treasury revenues. At its peak - in mid-2008 - …
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The Kremlin announces that Putin would meet with Netanyahu soon
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed to hold a meeting "shortly," the Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov stated, Interfax reports.
According to Peskov, the meeting of the leaders of the two countries is needed to "discuss current bilateral relationships and exchange views on various international and regional issues." He also said that during the conversation, Putin congratulated Netanyahu on the New Year. "The leaders …
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Putin signs law increasing punishment for false bomb threats
President Vladimir Putin has signed a law to increase the maximum punishment for telephone terrorism from five to ten years in prison. The document signed by the president has been published on the official Internet portal for legal information.
The law was earlier adopted by the State Duma and the Federation Council. The amendments were prepared together with law enforcement agencies, and aimed at combating terrorism, said United Russia MP Vasily Piskarev, RBC news agency reports. The …
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Head of Crimea promises to complete the Kerch bridge in new year
The Russian-appointed head of the Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, promised in his New Year's address that construction of the Kerch bridge and the thermal power station will be completed in 2018. A video of the greeting was posted on Aksyonov’s official YouTube channel.
"The new Simferopol international airport terminal - the largest in the south of Russia - will receive its first passengers. The first electric power plant in Simferopol will give its first current. A flow of cars will pass along the …
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Putin gives a raise to the Prosecutor General and to the Head of the Russian Investigative Committee
Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a 4% salary increase to Prosecutor General Yury Chaika and Head of the Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin. The relevant decrees are published on the legal information website and take effect on January 1, 2018.
According to a declaration that Bastrykin published in May, in 2016, the Head of the Investigative Committee earned 7.9 million rubles or $136,986 while in 2015 he earned 8.4 million rubles or $145,656. His wife’s declared income in 2016 …