The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation has proposed amendments that would cancel fines imposed on regional and municipal authorities for failing to meet delegated state powers if funding was not allocated for their implementation. This update appeared on the website of the newspaper Vedomosti.
The changes are set to modify the Article of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation titled “Cases Excluding Proceedings in the Status of Administrative Offenses.”
According to a source cited by the publication, the reform received approval during a legislative commission meeting held on August 27.
The article notes that the amendments were prepared under the instruction of President Vladimir Putin. The stated objective is to introduce mechanisms that limit the accountability of local government bodies when resources are not provided for their duties.
In a related matter, a justice ministry update mentions the recent court decision involving the former deputy governor of Kurgan, Vanyukov, who was sentenced for bribery. He was released from custody after a ruling that allowed him to leave the colony; he had been detained in November 2018 on bribery suspicions.
Additionally, the former deputy governor of Belgorod, who had previously faced bribery allegations, reportedly sought assistance from a contracting authority connected with the Northern Military District.