Not yet in Armenia

In Russia, tariffs for utilities are raised, but experts do not wait for popular unrest

In Russia, in July , tariffs for all utilities were indexed - heat, water, gas and light. Tariff growth varies depending on the region, but on average they rise in price by 8.3 percent. Some regional opposition deputies are already offering to freeze the fee for housing and communal services. As for the reaction of the population, according to experts, the Russian regions are unlikely to expect popular unrest.

The minimum increase in housing and communal services tariffs from July 1 is expected at Chukotka, the maximum in the Volgograd region. In St. Petersburg and in Moscow, the cost of utilities will increase by 9.3 percent and 10 percent, respectively. In the Federal Tariff Service (FST), such a scatter is explained not only by the climatic and territorial features of the regions, but also by the scheme of communal infrastructure, the degree of loading and wear, the type of fuel used, the length of the networks. The validity of raising tariffs is determined by the regional authorities, the deputy of the State Duma of Russia, the chairman of the Committee on Housing Policy and Housing and Communal Services Galina Khovanskaya explained Radio Liberty : Galina Khovanskaya:

Where the regional authorities correlate the capabilities of citizens with an increase in the tariff, everything is fine and calm there

- This is the competence of the regional authorities. Reasonably or not justified - it is necessary to specifically consider tariffs and standards too. Because our payment is a derivative of the tariff for the standard if you have no counter in your house or in your apartment. Where the regional authorities correlate the capabilities of their citizens with an increase in the tariff, everything is normal and calm there. In our Housing Code, there are already maximum indices of the so -called payment of utilities. And these limiters are installed. Their change is a separate story. And the Russian government should already deal with this. There are, of course, exceptions to the general rule. But so far it is necessary to analyze and consider the situation in a particular region.

Deputies of several Russian regions at once made a proposal to freeze the tariffs of housing and communal services. In the Volgograd Legislative Assembly, this initiative of deputies-communist did not meet understanding. However, according to the secretary of the Volgograd regional committee of the Communist Party of the Communist Party of the Communist Party of the Communist Party , he and his colleagues intend to apply to the federal authorities with this proposal:

-In their statement, communist deputies draw attention to the fact that, according to Rosstat for the first half of the year, on the country's scale, the tariff growth was already 2 percent, and in the conditions of the economic crisis, many families will not be able to pay increased tariffs today-this will very painfully hit the socially unprotected layers of the population. Now, in a crisis, many have lost their jobs, they have lowered wages to many, and at this time tariffs are increasing, and overhaul contributions appear. Therefore, deputies-communist calls the federal authorities to introduce a moratorium on increasing the cost of housing and communal services until 2017.

In connection with the introduction of a mandatory contribution for major repairs, in Moscow, the payment will be heavier by a third - somewhere on average per 1000 rubles

In addition to raising utilities for utilities, residents of Moscow are waiting for another unpleasant surprise - the introduction of a mandatory contribution for major repairs. It is two times higher than in other Russian regions. Galina Khovanskaya believes that in the current economic conditions this will seriously hit the residents of the capital:

- There may be a very unpleasant situation in connection with the introduction of a mandatory contribution for major repairs. In Moscow, this is 15 rubles per square meter, that is, your payment will be more hung by a third-somewhere on average per 1000 rubles. And this is very noticeable in the current economic situation, when citizens lose their jobs and look for ways to provide their family. This is not the best script that is introduced in Moscow.

It was the increase in electricity tariffs that have already provoked protests in Armenia . According to Galina Khovanskaya, the outrage of the citizens of this country is understandable:

- I am on the side of the population of Armenia. Because compared to those tariffs that exist in Russia, they are very serious. Therefore, it seems to me a reasonable decision of the President of Armenia to conduct an audit - how just the large numbers are justified, which offer the population of a not very rich state, ”says State Duma deputy.

At one time, the annual increase in communal tariffs was specially transferred from January 1 to
July 1, because it is a more calm and more optimistic time

Can increase the cost of utilities cause such protests in the Russian regions? The opinions of experts on this issue are not so unambiguous. Political scientist Mikhail Vinogradov says that so far in Russia there is no such indignation that can result in mass protests, but it is also not worth denying the very possibility of a violent reaction to raising housing and communal services tariffs either.

- At one time, the annual increase in communal tariffs was specially postponed from January 1 to July 1, because it is a more calm and more optimistic time: part of the vacation people, and this is not so acute against the background of the general depression, which usually happens after the New Year. Therefore, so far the signs of the fact that serious discontent is brewing, we do not see. But emotions can suddenly appear after receiving notifications with new calculations. On the one hand, the internal agenda has recently been present in mass media recently, and people are not very inclined to remember that there are a large number of problems within the country, and on the other hand, of course, the arrival of new accounts of communal tariffs is a way to recall that everything is not so perfect in the country. Therefore, I would not say that some kind of protest or dissatisfaction is brewing, but such an emotion, injury can suddenly occur and be a surprise for both the authorities and for an ordinary citizen.

The communal topic is not new, and I would not say that the opposition can use it qualitatively

Already in September, some Russian regions will be held in some Russian regions. According to Mikhail Vinogradov, here everything will depend on how skillfully the opponents of the regional authorities will be able to use the situation. Although, as a political scientist recalls, the topic of raising communal tariffs arises in the election period for the first time:

- If the opposition is ready to play the map and show that against the backdrop of conversations about the country's power, the wallets of people become thinner, it probably has additional chances. On the other hand, the communal topic is not new, and I would not say that the opposition can use it qualitatively, the political scientist believes.

Even the tariffs for housing and communal services that still existed were a heavy burden for Russians. Housing and communal services debts are already exceeding one trillion rubles. Therefore, the probability that this figure will still grow in connection with the current increase in payments is large enough.