Russian lawmakers to receive bonuses early, just before elections – Volodin complains of leak
Russia's State Duma deputies will receive their annual bonuses in early September, ahead of the parliamentary elections on September 20. Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin reportedly complained in a closed-door meeting about the information being leaked to the press.
Russian State Duma deputies are set to receive their annual bonuses ahead of schedule – in early September this year, as they approach the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 20. The plan was announced by Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin during a closed-door session, according to sources cited by Russian business dailies Vedomosti and Kommersant.
The early payouts are made possible by savings of 2 billion rubles (approximately 22 million euros) accumulated in the Duma's budget. All deputies, regardless of party affiliation, could receive these bonuses, though amounts may vary.
At a subsequent closed-door meeting, Volodin expressed dissatisfaction that the information had reached the press, prompting journalists to seek his comment. He also noted that ministers' salaries are not comparable to deputies' earnings, despite the equal status of the two positions. The Duma leadership aims to offset this difference with the announced bonuses.
Independent Russian political newsletter Faridaily notes that deputies' official salaries are no longer published, as their financial disclosures have been discontinued. A few years ago, each deputy was budgeted 650,000 rubles per month, with committee and faction chairs receiving significantly more.
Faridaily calls these bonuses the equivalent of "golden parachutes" that appeared in 2015, when elections were moved from December to September. At that time, deputies who were not re-elected were allowed to keep their salaries and benefits through December – receiving pay for months they had not worked. Media estimates suggest each could have received around 1.5 million rubles.
