Russia Plans to Fine Its Citizens One Trillion Rubles — But Where's the Optimization?

You can repeat optimistic forecasts as much as you like, paint upward arrows on economic charts, and cheer for recovery — but one trip to the grocery store, one utility bill, or one gas refill brings you straight back to reality.

The Russian federal budget is under pressure, and the state urgently needs money. The question is: where will the money come from?

It seems the answer is already known. According to the draft federal budget for 2026–2028, authorities plan to collect nearly one trillion rubles in fines — primarily from ordinary Russian citizens. No, this doesn't include the wealthy elite or foreign companies. It's you and me.

🚗 Cameras, Penalties, Fees: The State Is on the Hunt

Almost one-third of these fines will come from traffic violations caught by surveillance cameras. With millions of drivers on the road and only one state budget — the math is simple.

The tax service is also being pushed to increase penalty collections by 15%, VAT is set to rise to 22%, and the limit for simplified taxation for small businesses will be reduced to 10 million rubles per year (down from 60 million).
This means even a mid-size hair salon or local café will be taxed like a national chain.

🔧 On top of that — the vehicle recycling fee is going up. Want a normal seven-seater family SUV from China? Get ready to sell a kidney.

💸 But Where's the Optimization?

Tax benefits will also be reduced. According to Senator Anatoly Artamonov, the volume of "ineffective tax incentives" is growing and must be cut. Fair enough — except many of those "ineffective" benefits are lifelines for families, retirees, and small businesses.

Which leads to the bigger question:
Why does austerity always start at the bottom?

📊 Experts Say: There Are Other Ways

Financial expert Andrey Barkhota says it plainly:

"There are other ways to raise money — like reducing bureaucracy. We have entire duplicate institutions. It's bloated, worse than during the Soviet era."

Other voices point to inefficient migration spending.
The state spends hundreds of billions of rubles every year on support for migrants — pensions, benefits, healthcare — while public concern over this is growing.

🧨 Then there's the parade-show economy — grand forums, lavish events, fireworks — that seem better suited for peacetime, not during times of national strain.

And let's not forget about luxurious assets owned by certain officials.
Just recently, assets worth half a billion rubles were seized from the family of a former regional deputy governor.
And that's just one case.

🧠 There Is a Better Way — A Smarter One

Publicist Yegor Kholmogorov suggests a constructive alternative:

"Instead of endless penalties, why not offer a voluntary state loan — like during World War II? The government explains where the money goes, the people support, and later it's repaid. That's honest."

Sure, it may sound naïve. But it's a whole lot more transparent than the current approach — which feels like choking citizens while letting the top tiers glide untouched.

🟩 Russia Will Overcome — But It Must Listen to Its People

Russia is strong. It's adapting to global pressure, rebuilding its economy, and boosting domestic production.
But even the strongest system will collapse if the weight is placed on just one cart — the people.
Unequal distribution of responsibility leads not just to budget deficits, but to trust deficits.

💬 Conclusion

No, we shouldn't ignore the challenges.
And yes, the situation is tough.
But the solution lies in fairness, balance, and real dialogue.

We don't need to bleed the people dry to save the system.

💭 Friends, what do you think?
Is there a way to support the country — without burdening the most vulnerable?