Press Release, 15.07.2021

Photo: Nikolai Rybakov / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Сhairman of the Yabloko party Nikolai Rybakov appealed to Vladimir Putin with a demand to introduce a two-week lockdown and take a number of urgent measures to support the economy and the population. Nikolai Rybakov noted that Russia is rated third in the world after India and Indonesia as of daily mortality rates from coronavirus. Rybakov also recalled that 791 people died from COVID-19 in Russia on 15 July and the number of deaths has been growing every day, while the measures taken by the government to restrict the epidemic are insufficient.

“The distrust of citizens in the authorities, mistakes in the information campaign conducted by the state, prejudice and lack of information have led to the fact that vaccination in Russia is proceeding significantly slower than in a number of leading countries,” Rybakov noted. “At the same time, no partial restrictions give the same tangible and quick effect as a total lockdown,” Yabloko Chairman emphasised.

The Yabloko leader also stressed that the lockdown should be held on different terms than in 2020. Rybakov believes that payments to employees (during non-working days) must be made at the expense of the state, and not at the expense of the owners of enterprises, otherwise this will lead to the bankruptcies of entrepreneurs, reduction in wages and layoffs.

Rybakov also called for emergency meetings of the State Duma in order to make changes to the Russian budget so that to economise on non-priority items (business trips and transport services for state and municipal employees, improvement and beautification of central streets, holding festivals and holidays, support of these events in the media, etc.) and allocating these funds to healthcare and preparation of the education system for possible online learning in the fall.

“To finance anti-crisis measures, it is necessary to direct the funds of the National Welfare Fund, which almost doubled during the pandemic from 7.8 trillion to 13.6 trillion roubles. This reserve fund was conceived as a money-box for a “rainy day”, and that day has come in Russia,” Rybakov noted.

In order to preserve people’s lives and health, as well as support the economy and businesses, the Chairman of the Yabloko party proposed to the Russian President specific measures:

1. Urgently introduce the regime of paid days off for two weeks (with the possibility of extending it for another week).

2. At the expense of the National Welfare Fund, compensate employers’ expenses on wages, tax and insurance payments. All employees who have to take a two-week leave must be compensated for this period at least half of the average monthly salary.

3. Adopt separate programmes of assistance for the self-employed, individual entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized businesses, independent workers in the field of culture and arts. These programmes, in addition to salary costs, must fully cover the cost of rental payments and partially compensate for the shortfall in income.

4. Adopt a housing allowance programme for tenants to subsidize 50 per cent of their rental costs.

At the same time, Nikolai Rybakov demanded to introduce amendments into the federal and regional budgets and redirect funds from non-priority items (business trips and transport services for state and municipal employees, improvement and beautification of central streets, holding festivals and holidays, and their media support) to the solution of healthcare problems.