Translated material
Engine compartment fights
The Kaliningrad governor may partially revise the increased transport tax
The governor of the westernmost region of the Russian Federation, Georgy Boos, may back down in the story with the transport tax, the increase of which was opposed by a number of politicians, the regional prosecutor's office and local residents who gathered for the largest rally in recent years. Georgy Boos promised to meet with the majority of the regional Duma by the end of January to review tax rates again.The Kaliningrad region is one of the most motorized regions of Russia - more than 350 thousand cars for 950 thousand inhabitants. Kaliningraders acquired cars back in the years when federal legislation made it possible to drive an iron horse from Europe for themselves (or for sale) without any problems or costs. As a rule, the car was bought in Germany, less often in Poland or Lithuania. Even a separate type of business appeared - “transportation”, which fed (both legally and not - there were corruption scandals) for many people. As a result, “Mercedes”, “Volkswagen” or “Opel” have long become closer to Kaliningrad residents than the products of the domestic automobile industry. Moreover, the cars were mostly purchased used and with high engine power.
Since 2006, maintaining such cars has become more and more expensive for the family budget - regional authorities began to actively review transport tax rates. Georgy Boos, having headed the Kaliningrad region at the end of 2005, relied on large infrastructure projects (as he himself called them, “megaprojects”), designed to become locomotives for the region’s economy. These include the construction of a high-speed “circular” highway from Kaliningrad along the coast - the “Primorsk Ring”. In the fall of 2009, the first stage with a branch to the airport was commissioned (after the bankruptcy of the local airline KD Avia, the flow of passengers sharply decreased); a continuation is planned for 2010, which, naturally, requires co-financing from the regional budget. All efforts are being thrown at the “Primorsk Ring”; the authorities promise almost the first autobahn in Russia, built according to Western European standards.
Speaking with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during his visit to the region last fall, Governor Boos proposed making this Kaliningrad road a toll road. At the same time, regional officials began to talk about another increase in the transport tax - and on November 30, they pushed such a decision through the regional Duma. Local residents perceived this initiative very negatively.
On the day of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, December 12, a protest rally took place in Kaliningrad, which can well be called the main regional political event of 2009. According to the organizers, over 5 thousand people took part in it; the regional police department gave a figure of more than 3 thousand (predicting that if the situation is not smoothed out, then next time more than 10 thousand will take to the streets). In any case, even 3 thousand “angry men” - Kaliningrad has not remembered this for a long time. The last time people rallied in such large numbers was in January 2001, when the State Customs Committee issued a decree that effectively nullified the special economic zone regime. This almost led to the paralysis of the economy of the region, cut off from the main territory of the Russian Federation. Then complaints were made against Moscow, which even now does not always hear local aspirations. This time the anger was addressed exclusively to the regional authorities.
The increase in transport tax rates in the Kaliningrad region has become, according to the Department of Internal Affairs, the most noticeable in the entire country. For example, if in Moscow the owner of a small car (up to 100 “horses” - there are about 150 thousand of them in the region) pays 7 rubles for one horsepower, and in St. Petersburg - 16, then in Kaliningrad - 25. Those Those who have 100-150 “horses” under the hood (there are about 100 thousand such cars in the region) are forced to pay 44 rubles. (in Moscow - 20, in St. Petersburg - 33).
Motorcyclists were especially offended. Previously, they considered Georgy Boos “one of their own” - after all, he is friends with the famous biker Alexander “Surgeon” Zaldostanov, who held mass actions in Kaliningrad with the participation of “night wolves”. But at the rally, motorcyclists, many of whom deregistered their “bikes” as a sign of protest, held posters with the inscription: “George, we are ashamed that you are a biker!” And much harsher words were spoken into the microphone.
The leader of the local LDPR branch, Valery Seleznev, immediately took the bikers under his wing, demanding a revision of the rates at least for them. Communists and “Patriots of Russia” began collecting signatures, advocating the adoption of a law on the recall of regional Duma deputies. Even the first vice-speaker of the regional parliament, Konstantin Polyakov (United Russia), never tires of convincing government officials that rates should be reduced for at least one of the most widespread categories of motorists - those who have cars with a capacity of 100-150 horsepower.
Opposition regional Duma deputy Solomon Ginzburg appealed to the regional prosecutor's office, pointing out that the law on increasing the transport tax was adopted in violation - it was published on the wrong day when it was required by law. And the prosecutor’s office agreed, and at the same time found another omission - Kaliningrad legislators raised transport tax rates too early, back in 2009, while they had the right to do so only in 2010. As a result, the prosecutor's office went to court, demanding the law be repealed. True, representatives of the Duma and the government countered: not only were we in a hurry, but so was the prosecutor’s office, because the contested law had not yet entered into force, which means there was nothing to appeal. The court agreed with this position, and the prosecutor's office said that after the January holidays it would file a second lawsuit.
The tightening of the “auto-tax” screws has complicated the already difficult situation in the Kaliningrad region. Georgiy Boos' term as governor expires in September 2010. He traditionally told local media that he intends to lead the region for at least two terms (if, as he specified, he trusts the country’s leadership). Of course, mass protests (car tax is not the only reason for discontent) spoil these plans of the governor. And Georgy Boos, apparently, will have to soften his position.
“I think I don’t come across as stupid. I was aware that increasing the tax was an unpopular measure and my rating would fall and people would be unhappy. But since we are going to do this, there is no other way to maintain the roads. But the United Russia faction and I discussed and agreed that in January we will calmly look at this topic again. If we don’t have to withdraw money from anyone, we will reconsider the rates,” said Mr. Boos.
According to a source in United Russia, following the meeting, a decision will most likely be made to reduce rates for motorcycle owners and for those who drive cars with a capacity of 100-150 horsepower.