Recent information from a source within the Ministry of Digital Development indicates that Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin rejected a proposal to impose infrastructure fees on marketplaces. This stance emerged during a meeting focused on improving the financial and economic situation of Russian Post, a gathering that included Mishustin, Deputy Prime Ministers Dmitry Grigorenko and Dmitry Chernyshenko, Vice President Maxim Oreshkin, the head of the Ministry of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, and Maksut Shadayev from the Ministry of Digital Development alongside Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. Attending the meeting was Russian Post General Director Mikhail Volkov, reflecting the high level of government engagement with postal and e commerce issues. The source clarified that the Prime Minister viewed the infrastructure fee as an initiative likely to be passed on to buyers, and therefore not favorable. As a result, discussions are moving toward an alternative arrangement that would not place the burden directly on consumers, with Russian Post and marketplace operators exploring a different funding mechanism for infrastructure costs. Earlier reports mentioned a proposal for marketplaces and other e commerce participants to bear a quarterly infrastructure payment equal to 0.5 percent of goods turnover when their annual revenue surpasses 1 billion rubles.
The initiative faced rejection not only from the Prime Minister but also from the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Maksut Shadayev, referencing the spring discussions, pointed to the necessity of compensating Russian Post for providing socially important postal services in rural areas where activity often fails to be profitable. He noted that the Post Office frequently maintains unprofitable branches to ensure a consistent standard and reliability of service across the country. The issue of state subsidies for Russian Post, which were curtailed in 2014, forms part of the broader political and economic context shaping how postal and logistics services are funded today. The conversation around infrastructure fees thus sits at the intersection of public service obligations, digital commerce growth, and regional accessibility, prompting officials to seek a solution that sustains universal service levels without transferring additional costs to households. The most recent coverage reminds readers that the environment around postal services in Russia remains dynamic, with policy debates continuing to balance the needs of a modern marketplace against the financial realities facing rural and remote communities. It is clear that the push to reform funding models for essential postal infrastructure continues to influence decisions in both government and industry circles, reflecting a broader effort to align e commerce growth with the imperative of nationwide service coverage. The situation underscores how fiscal decisions at the highest levels of government can ripple through marketplaces, logistics networks, and consumer pricing, shaping the operating landscape for digital trade in Russia today. In parallel developments, observers note that the emphasis remains on ensuring reliable postal service provision, particularly in sparsely populated regions, while exploring sustainable funding paths that do not overburden buyers or small marketplaces. Acknowledgments from officials indicate a shared interest in preserving service quality while fostering a conducive environment for e commerce and postal operations to coexist with fiscal discipline and social responsibility. In sum, while the direct infrastructure fee proposal has not gained traction, ongoing dialogue continues to seek a balanced arrangement that supports both Russian Post and the digital marketplace ecosystem amid evolving policy priorities. The broader takeaway is a recognition that modern marketplaces require robust logistical underpinnings, and any financing approach must reflect national service obligations, market growth, and the lived realities of consumers across the country.