On New Year's Eve, Vladimir Putin adopted a decree by which all Russian officials are exempted from the need to make income declarations public for the time being. The same applies to the military and security forces, and in general to everyone who was previously obliged to publish such declarations on public resources. At the same time, a number of persons are even exempted from submitting such declarations to regulatory authorities.
In fact, the new decree refers to two groups of persons with varying degrees of cancellation of obligations – these are those who can forget about reporting altogether, and those who need to report, but can not publish a declaration.
Who now does not have to report to the authorities on income:
- military personnel;
- employees of the internal affairs bodies of Russia serving in the troops of the National Guard of the Russian Federation and having special police ranks;
- employees of the penitentiary system of the Russian Federation and the Investigative Committee who took (took) part in the "SVO" and performed tasks related to its conduct in the territories of the "LDNR", Zaporozhye region, Kherson region and Ukraine;
- persons sent (seconded) to perform tasks in the territories of the "LDNR", Zaporozhye region, Kherson region and Ukraine, filling positions that require the submission of information on income, expenses and property (including spouses and minor children);
- all of the above, if their participation in the "SVO" and the implementation of related tasks are planned.
- all those who occupy “other positions of an unforeseen list”, where it is not necessary to submit declarations, but apply for positions where it is required.
Who now does not need to publish income declarations:
Everyone.
Ilya Shumanov, director of Transparency International Russia, told The Insider that now the need to report on income and property is relieved “conditionally of the head of some Kherson “administration” or military commander of headquarters, or Ramzan Kadyrov, since he is seconded.”
In principle, a wide range of people can take advantage of the decree, even if they go to the zone of the so-called "special operation" for a short time.
“Some persons can break through this list, as there are “other positions of an unforeseen list.” This is unlikely to apply to deputies, but it can apply to a number of officials. I think it will depend on the interpretation, how they will interpret it in favor of individual officials, and not in favor of public interests,” says Shumanov.
Ban lifted for officials and military to “receive gifts” in occupied Ukraine
Also, this decree removes the restriction on receiving gifts of a "charitable nature" for everyone who receives them in connection with participation in the "SBO". These are all those listed above. In fact, the Russian military and officials were allowed to take whatever they wanted in the occupied territories with impunity.
“Theoretically, a car seized from a local resident in the occupied territory can be attributed to this type of gift. What kind of gift "charitable, humanitarian" no one will say. With certain skills and desire, this is an expansion of the area of corruption. For example, the locals gave you money, gold or a car “as a humanitarian aid”. Everything can be clothed in “humanitarian aid,” Shumanov explained.
