President Vladimir Putin urged the Russian government to respond promptly to the surge in poultry meat prices by sourcing purchases from nations that are friendly to Russia. The remarks were made during a video conference with government officials, as reported by TASS.
The comments were a response to Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev’s explanation for the 27 percent rise in chicken prices in 2023. Patrushev attributed part of the increase to a slowdown in price reductions by market players who claimed to act out of a sense of social responsibility. Putin countered by stating that government action should not rely on the voluntary choices of entrepreneurs and must operate independently to stabilize the market.
He stressed that the government should promptly deploy well-known mechanisms to curb price pressures, including brisk purchases of imports from neighboring partners such as Belarus and other nearby states like Kazakhstan. The aim, he indicated, is to ensure steady supplies and prevent price volatility from affecting consumers and the broader economy.
On October 16, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) announced that chicken producers had begun to lower prices, signaling that market adjustments were underway. During a meeting on September 29 at the Ministry of Agriculture, deputy head Oksana Lut discussed with industry representatives the possibility of discounting prices for chicken carcasses; failing to do so, participants risked facing government regulatory measures.
Putin’s point about state action aligning with market dynamics was reiterated in his later remarks, underscoring the expectation that government policy should guide economic outcomes when private sector responses fall short of stabilizing essential commodities. The underlying message was clear: the state preserves a structural role in maintaining affordable food prices for citizens while balancing the interests of producers and consumers alike.