Upstairs

THEN they promised money
Last week, the government instructed the Ministry of Economy to develop a program for the development of closed administrative-territorial entities (CLATEs). The Russian authorities agreed to pay 2.6 billion rubles for the right to collect taxes there.

Russian internal offshores - ZATOs - have been haunting the authorities for a long time. Having received the right to provide tax incentives (for the purpose of industrial development), they quickly figured out to register the country's largest enterprises on their territory, effectively exempting them from federal taxes for a small compensation. Moreover, the volume of tax benefits reached 99%.
As a result, the functioning of the 10 largest of Russia's 42 ZATOs last year cost the federal budget 36 billion rubles. Deputies did not allow internal offshore companies to be deprived of benefits, insisting on the need to at least somehow help the regions. Lobbyists for oil companies registered in closed administrative territories contributed to parliamentary inaccessibility.
As a result of lengthy bargaining, they agreed on the following: the right to provide tax benefits remained with only two ZATOs; the maximum amount is 2 billion rubles each. In exchange, the government promised to allocate 2.6 billion rubles for the development of closed administrative territories. The Ministry of Economy will decide exactly how to use them, but in fact these are compensation that the Russian authorities paid for the right to collect taxes in their country.
PETER RUSHAILO

New horizons of Valentina Matvienko
Last Friday, Valentina Matvienko held her last briefing as Deputy Prime Minister. She now has a new goal - the post of governor of St. Petersburg.

Only the leader of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions, Mikhail Shmakov, remembered Matvienko’s farewell to the government. In a gentlemanly manner, he emphasized all her merits as Deputy Prime Minister: many years of arrears in salaries and pensions were paid off, sick leave payments were increased, caring for children was embodied in the preparation of pioneer camps and kindergartens for the summer.
Matvienko was embarrassed and said that this was not her merit, but that of the tripartite commission. And she admitted: “We had such debates there that we could close our ears.”
Here the question about her assessment of the latest criminal events in St. Petersburg came at a very opportune time. Matvienko’s eyes sparkled. “I am extremely surprised that the city authorities openly admitted their weakness and helplessness in protecting the citizens,” the Deputy Prime Minister readily said. “If they admitted this, then they should resign. I am amazed at the patience of St. Petersburg residents.”
Then surprise gradually turned into accusation: “The authorities have levers, they (that is, the current authorities of St. Petersburg - Kommersant) simply use them ineffectively.”
And Matvienko concluded not as a deputy prime minister, but as a real candidate for governor: “If I am elected governor, then, of course, I will launch the most active fight against crime and criminality.”
IRINA GRANIK

Magazine "Kommersant Money" No. 12 dated March 29, 2000, p. 18

Authors:

Top – Money – Kommersant