The Russian Ministry overseeing digital development, communications, and mass media has proposed financing the network of post offices by tapping into the infrastructure payments paid by online marketplaces. The idea is to cover half of the losses and rebuild Post branches in smaller towns with populations under five thousand. This proposal was shared by Maksut Shadayev, head of the ministry, during a session of the State Duma Information Policy Committee. The information was conveyed to the public by Interfax.
Earlier this spring, Russian Post put forward a plan to require infrastructure payments of 0.5 percent of quarterly turnover from marketplaces and other e commerce players with annual revenues at or above one billion rubles. The proposed funds would support a financially stressed post office network and help formalize Russian Post as a federally guaranteed supplier of e commerce goods. A legislative bill reflecting these ideas is currently under development.
Shadayev explained that the ministry favors repairing post offices and covering damages incurred by operating branches in settlements with small populations by using revenue collected through marketplace infrastructure payments. The goal is to sustain essential postal services in rural and sparsely populated areas while preserving the reliability of delivery networks for online commerce.
In related coverage, industry observers noted attempts by online marketplaces to optimize pickup point profitability. One prominent industry voice argued that new tariff structures at common pickup points should be examined to balance revenue with consumer access. This perspective came from Maxim Loginov, who leads a prominent Russian ecosystem of providers specializing in professional promotion on major e commerce platforms. His comments were shared in a public interview with SocialBites about marketplace economics and collection strategies.
Additionally, earlier reporting indicated that discussions within the Ministry of Finance centered on the lack of a unified regulatory stance regarding the sale of alcohol via the internet. The dialogue highlighted ongoing debates about how online alcohol sales should be taxed, controlled, and monitored in a way that aligns with broader consumer protection and fiscal objectives.