State Duma Deputy Yevgeny Fedorov addressed Anton Siluanov, the head of the Russian Ministry of Finance, proposing a tighter stance on tax breaks and administrative fine reductions for foreign agents. The appeal, reported by RT, urged the ministry to reassess existing privileges in light of new rules slated to come into force later this year.
The anticipated changes are tied to the December enactment of the federal law On the Control of the Activities of Persons Under Foreign Influence. The bill, as explained in parliamentary communications, would bar foreign agents from using the simplified taxation system. This shift signals a broader effort to regulate financial incentives that support such organizations and their personnel.
Despite the tightening, foreign agents—like other Russian citizens—would still have access to certain forms of state support. These include reductions in administrative penalties for traffic violations within the framework of the administrative code and various tax-related breaks available to all taxpayers. The contrast between the potential loss of one stream of benefits and the continued availability of others is at the heart of the debate described by RT’s coverage.
Deputy Fedorov highlighted a potential inconsistency: entities funded from foreign sources, including funds coming from partner states that are not hostile to Russia, may actively engage in information activities seen as contrary to Russian interests while still enjoying the same financial incentives offered to Russian citizens. He framed this as a misalignment within the current policy that could undermine the intent of the forthcoming rules and called for a careful review by the finance ministry to determine whether further amendments are warranted.
In his communication, the deputy urged the ministry to consider extending the same limitations to individuals linked to non-governmental organizations classified as foreign agents. He suggested evaluating whether funding streams from sources belonging to non-friendly states should be subject to the same restrictions that apply to the use of tax benefits and the payment or wiping clean of penalties. The aim, as described, is to reduce the possibility of foreign influence being embedded in civil society activities conducted under the banner of Russian organizations.
Earlier this session, the State Duma moved forward with a third reading that culminated in the adoption of a law regulating the activities of foreign agents within the Russian Federation. Deputy Andrey Alshevskikh, who served as a co-author of the document, indicated to Gazeta.ru that this is not the final step in reshaping the legal framework. The legislative body appears intent on continuing to refine how foreign influence is identified, monitored, and managed through stricter governance across associations and their financial operations, as the coverage notes. This ongoing process reflects a broader trend toward heightened scrutiny of non-governmental activity with foreign ties and the attendant financial mechanisms that enable it, according to the reporting available at the time.