<p>Russia has raised the maximum conscription age for compulsory military service to 30 from 27, but has kept the lower limit to 18. This move will now increase the number of young men who will be taking up compulsory military service of one-year. The decision comes after lawmakers dismissed a proposal to raise the starting age for military service to 21, which was at 18 before as well.&nbsp;</p>

<p>State Duma Defence Committee Chairman Andrey Kartapolov told media personnel on Friday that the conscription age bracket now will be from 18 to 30 years.&nbsp;"The key amendment is that the upper age ceiling [in the conscription age bracket] will be set at 30 years old, while the decision was made to leave the lower age limit at 18, as there are many young people who would like to enlist for military service at the age of 18, and that opportunity is currently available to them," the senior Russian lawmaker said during the second reading of the bill in the lower house of Russia’s parliament, reported Moscow Times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/terrorist-threatens-to-target-indias-foreign-minister-jaishankar-home-minister-amit-shah-618078">Terrorist threatens to target India's foreign minister Jaishankar, home minister Amit Shah</a></p>

<p>During the first reading last month, the bill sought to raise the lower age limit for men to be called up for compulsory military service from 18 to 21 years old. However, it was kept to 18 years after the second reading.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These new rules will come into effect on 1st January 2024 if the bill is enacted into law. Media reports quoting Kartapolov&nbsp;also said that the changes will not have any impact on new troops who will be called up this fall.</p>

<h2><strong>Timeline of the bill&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>In March, the bill was submitted by a coalition of lawmakers led by Kartapolov. Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament&nbsp;passed the bill in the first reading at the time.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/manipur-women-paraded-naked-was-spontaneous-act-say-authorities-618069">Manipur women paraded naked was 'spontaneous act', say authorities</a></p>

<p>The bill, in its original shape, had proposed a phased increase in the compulsory conscription age bracket. As per that, the bill first sought to keep the bracket at 19-30 years old in 2024, then to 20-30 years old in 2025, and then to 21-30 years old in 2026.</p>

<h2><strong>Duration of&nbsp;compulsory military service</strong></h2>

<p>Kartapolov, while speaking to media personnel, said that the time duration of compulsory military service in Russia will be kept at one year. He said there is no need for conscripts to serve for two years. "There is absolutely no need to serve for two years. Currently, in our country, a contemporary youth is capable of mastering any military specialization in six months maximum," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At present, all men in Russia are obligated to serve in the military. Alternatively, they can undergo equivalent training while pursuing higher education.</p>

<h2><strong>Controversies surrounding military service</strong></h2>

<p>Military service has been a sensitive topic in Russia, leading many individuals to take extreme measures to evade conscription during the call-up periods.</p>

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<p>Concerns escalated when some conscripts were deployed to participate in Russia's war in Ukraine, despite prior assurances to the contrary.</p>

<p>Additionally, the unexpected mobilisation of 300,000 men for a "special military operation" last autumn further fueled public criticism and prompted numerous people to flee the country to avoid being sent to fight.</p>

<h2><strong>Russia's efforts to strengthen its military</strong></h2>

<p>To bolster its military capabilities, Russia announced plans to increase its professional and conscripted combat personnel by over 30% to reach a total of 1.5 million. However, the country faced challenges due to undisclosed casualties in the ongoing war.</p>

<p>In a move to make avoiding military service more difficult, legislation was passed in April allowing conscription papers to be served online. Furthermore, last Tuesday, Russian parliament extended the maximum age at which men who completed compulsory service can be mobilised. The age limit was raised to 55 for some junior ranks and up to 70 for the most senior officers.</p>

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Russia has raised the maximum conscription age for compulsory military service to 30 from 27, but has kept the lower limit to 18. This move will now increase the number of young men who will be taking up compulsory military service of one-year.

Russia has raised the maximum conscription age for compulsory military service to 30 from 27, but has kept the lower limit to 18. This move will now increase the number of young men who will be taking up compulsory military service of one-year. The decision comes after lawmakers dismissed a proposal to raise the starting age for military service to 21, which was at 18 before as well. State Duma Defence Committee Chairman Andrey Kartapolov told media personnel on Friday that the conscription age bracket now will be from 18 to 30 years. "The key amendment is that the upper age ceiling [in the conscription age bracket] will be set at 30 years old, while the decision was made to leave the lower age limit at 18, as there are many young people who would like to enlist for military service at the age of 18, and that opportunity is currently available to them," the senior Russian lawmaker said during the second reading of the bill in the lower house of Russia’s parliament, reported Moscow Times. Also Read | Terrorist threatens to target India's foreign minister Jaishankar, home minister Amit Shah During the first reading last month, the bill sought to raise the lower age limit for men to be called up for compulsory military service from 18 to 21 years old. However, it was kept to 18 years after the second reading. These new rules will come into effect on 1st January 2024 if the bill is enacted into law. Media reports quoting Kartapolov also said that the changes will not have any impact on new troops who will be called up this fall. Timeline of the bill In March, the bill was submitted by a coalition of lawmakers led by Kartapolov. Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament passed the bill in the first reading at the time. Also Read | Manipur women paraded naked was 'spontaneous act', say authorities The bill, in its original shape, had proposed a phased increase in the compulsory conscription age bracket. As per that, the bill first sought to keep the bracket at 19-30 years old in 2024, then to 20-30 years old in 2025, and then to 21-30 years old in 2026. Duration of compulsory military service Kartapolov, while speaking to media personnel, said that the time duration of compulsory military service in Russia will be kept at one year. He said there is no need for conscripts to serve for two years. "There is absolutely no need to serve for two years. Currently, in our country, a contemporary youth is capable of mastering any military specialization in six months maximum," he said. At present, all men in Russia are obligated to serve in the military. Alternatively, they can undergo equivalent training while pursuing higher education. Controversies surrounding military service Military service has been a sensitive topic in Russia, leading many individuals to take extreme measures to evade conscription during the call-up periods. Watch | Rainfall in India and Pakistan × Concerns escalated when some conscripts were deployed to participate in Russia's war in Ukraine, despite prior assurances to the contrary. Additionally, the unexpected mobilisation of 300,000 men for a "special military operation" last autumn further fueled public criticism and prompted numerous people to flee the country to avoid being sent to fight. Russia's efforts to strengthen its military To bolster its military capabilities, Russia announced plans to increase its professional and conscripted combat personnel by over 30% to reach a total of 1.5 million. However, the country faced challenges due to undisclosed casualties in the ongoing war. In a move to make avoiding military service more difficult, legislation was passed in April allowing conscription papers to be served online. Furthermore, last Tuesday, Russian parliament extended the maximum age at which men who completed compulsory service can be mobilised. The age limit was raised to 55 for some junior ranks and up to 70 for the most senior officers. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Russia raises upper conscription age to 30 from 27, keeps lower limit at 18

As part of President Vladimir Putin's campaign against LGBTQ+ rights, the lower chamber of parliament in Russia has adopted a comprehensive constitutional law that would outlaw legally or medically changing a person's gender.

Russian Duma passes draft law banning change of gender

Russian president Vladimir Putin will deliver his state of the nation address to Russia's Federal Assembly today. This will be Putin's first state of the nation address in almost two years. According to the Kremlin, Putin's speech will largely focus on Russia's special military operation in Ukraine.

Putin to address Russian Duma | World News | WION

<p>Russian parliament's lower house is preparing a law to impose higher tax rate on those who left the country after the start of Ukraine war, said Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the Duma.&nbsp;"It is right to cancel preferences for those who have left the Russian Federation and to introduce an increased tax rate for them," Volodin wrote on the Telegram messaging app.</p>

<p>"We are working on appropriate changes to the legislation."</p>

<p>It is not fully clear how many Russians have left the country since the start of the war.</p>

<p>By early October, some local media had reported that as many as 700,000 had fled following the September announcement of a mobilisation drive to call up as many as 300,000 to fight. The government had strongly refuted that figure at the time.</p>

<p>Russia's 13% personal income tax is deducted automatically by domestic employers. Russians working abroad who are Russian tax residents must pay the tax independently, according to the Federal Tax Service of Russia.</p>

<p>"It's completely understandable why they fled," Volodin said. "Those who realised that they had made a mistake have already returned. The rest should understand: the vast majority of society does not support their act and believes that they betrayed their country, relatives and friends."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Russian parliament's lower house is preparing a law to impose higher tax rate on those who left the country after the start of Ukraine war, said Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the Duma.

Russian parliament's lower house is preparing a law to impose higher tax rate on those who left the country after the start of Ukraine war, said Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the Duma. "It is right to cancel preferences for those who have left the Russian Federation and to introduce an increased tax rate for them," Volodin wrote on the Telegram messaging app. "We are working on appropriate changes to the legislation." It is not fully clear how many Russians have left the country since the start of the war. By early October, some local media had reported that as many as 700,000 had fled following the September announcement of a mobilisation drive to call up as many as 300,000 to fight. The government had strongly refuted that figure at the time. Russia's 13% personal income tax is deducted automatically by domestic employers. Russians working abroad who are Russian tax residents must pay the tax independently, according to the Federal Tax Service of Russia. "It's completely understandable why they fled," Volodin said. "Those who realised that they had made a mistake have already returned. The rest should understand: the vast majority of society does not support their act and believes that they betrayed their country, relatives and friends." (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Russia plans to impose higher tax on those who left nation after Ukraine war started

<p>The speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament said on Sunday (November 27) that the country will soon adopt a law that will prohibit foreigners from taking service from Russian women as surrogate mothers. Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said this on Russia's Mother's Day.</p>

<p>Paid surrogacy is legal in Russia, but the practice has been criticised by religious groups as commercializing the birth of children.</p>

<p>"Everything must be done to protect children by prohibiting foreigners from using the surrogacy service," Volodin said on the Telegram messaging app. "We will make this decision at the beginning of December."</p>

<p>Volodin said that about 45,000 born by surrogate mothers have been taken abroad in the past few years.</p>

<p>"Child trafficking is unacceptable," he added.</p>

<p>"This is a large illegal business, with a turnover estimated at more than 2 billion euros. Such babies often end up in hardest situations: they become victims of crimes, including sale for transplants, they end up in same-sex couples," Volodin added.</p>

<p>The bill barring foreigners has been passed by Russian lawmakers nearly unanimously in its first reading in May. If it is passed by the lower house in the final third reading, it will then be reviewed by the upper house of the parliament.<br />
<br />
Under the proposed law, only married citizens of the Russian Federation or single female Russian nationals, who can not give birth to a child for medical reasons, can use surrogate mother services. Foreign nationals won’t be entitled to the surrogacy service in Russia.</p>

<p>The Ukrainian government says Russia has forcibly deported more than 12,000 Ukrainian children since invading its neighbour in February, while 440 have died in the war and hundreds are missing.</p>

<p>Russia denies forced deportations, saying the movement of people into Russia from Ukraine has been to protect civilians from Ukrainian soldiers.</p>

<p>Putin met on Friday with a carefully selected group of mothers of Russian soldiers sent to fight in Ukraine telling them their sons had not died in vain.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament said on Sunday (November 27) that the country will soon adopt a law that will prohibit foreigners from taking service from Russian women as surrogate mothers.

The speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament said on Sunday (November 27) that the country will soon adopt a law that will prohibit foreigners from taking service from Russian women as surrogate mothers. Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said this on Russia's Mother's Day. Paid surrogacy is legal in Russia, but the practice has been criticised by religious groups as commercializing the birth of children. "Everything must be done to protect children by prohibiting foreigners from using the surrogacy service," Volodin said on the Telegram messaging app. "We will make this decision at the beginning of December." Volodin said that about 45,000 born by surrogate mothers have been taken abroad in the past few years. "Child trafficking is unacceptable," he added. "This is a large illegal business, with a turnover estimated at more than 2 billion euros. Such babies often end up in hardest situations: they become victims of crimes, including sale for transplants, they end up in same-sex couples," Volodin added. The bill barring foreigners has been passed by Russian lawmakers nearly unanimously in its first reading in May. If it is passed by the lower house in the final third reading, it will then be reviewed by the upper house of the parliament. Under the proposed law, only married citizens of the Russian Federation or single female Russian nationals, who can not give birth to a child for medical reasons, can use surrogate mother services. Foreign nationals won’t be entitled to the surrogacy service in Russia. The Ukrainian government says Russia has forcibly deported more than 12,000 Ukrainian children since invading its neighbour in February, while 440 have died in the war and hundreds are missing. Russia denies forced deportations, saying the movement of people into Russia from Ukraine has been to protect civilians from Ukrainian soldiers. Putin met on Friday with a carefully selected group of mothers of Russian soldiers sent to fight in Ukraine telling them their sons had not died in vain. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Russia set to prohibit foreigners from availing surrogacy services in the country

<p>Russian parliament on Tuesday (July 5) gave their initial approval to two bills authorising the government to ask businesses in Russia to supply the military with goods. These bills may&nbsp;also make their employees work overtime to support Russian invasion of Ukraine.</p>

<p>Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 and has control over Luhansk region in Ukraine's east. Russia calls its invasion of Ukraine a "special military operation'. The invasion has resulted in Western countries imposing sanctions on Russia with an aim to cripple Russian economy.</p>

<p>One of the bills -- approved in a first reading by the State Duma, the lower house of parliament -- said the state could impose "special economic measures" during military operations, requiring firms to supply goods and services to the military at the demand of the Russian government.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Russian shelling continues in Kharkiv, Putin declares victory in Luhansk</strong></p>

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<p>Attached to the bill is an explanatory note that says that Russian military needed new material and weapons repairs to pursue its Ukraine campaign</p>

<p>"The need to promptly meet these requirements, especially in the context of sanctions against Russia and Russian legal entities, will require us to temporarily focus our efforts on certain sectors of the economy (...) and organise the supply of resources through state defence procurement," the note said.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fight-on-putin-tells-russian-troops-after-capture-of-luhansk-494427">Fight on, Vladimir Putin tells Russian troops after capture of Luhansk</a></strong></p>

<p>This could mean the government could compel employees of businesses providing goods to the military to work at night, on weekends and holidays, and without annual leave.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-military-raises-national-flag-in-snake-island-after-russian-retreat-494470">Ukrainian military raises national flag in Snake Island after Russian retreat</a></strong></p>

<p>Both bills were introduced to the State Duma by the Russian government. They still need to undergo second and third readings, be reviewed by the upper house of parliament and be signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Russian parliament on Tuesday (July 5) gave their initial approval to two bills authorising the government to ask businesses in Russia to supply the military with goods.

Russian parliament on Tuesday (July 5) gave their initial approval to two bills authorising the government to ask businesses in Russia to supply the military with goods. These bills may also make their employees work overtime to support Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 and has control over Luhansk region in Ukraine's east. Russia calls its invasion of Ukraine a "special military operation'. The invasion has resulted in Western countries imposing sanctions on Russia with an aim to cripple Russian economy. One of the bills -- approved in a first reading by the State Duma, the lower house of parliament -- said the state could impose "special economic measures" during military operations, requiring firms to supply goods and services to the military at the demand of the Russian government. Watch | Russian shelling continues in Kharkiv, Putin declares victory in Luhansk × Attached to the bill is an explanatory note that says that Russian military needed new material and weapons repairs to pursue its Ukraine campaign "The need to promptly meet these requirements, especially in the context of sanctions against Russia and Russian legal entities, will require us to temporarily focus our efforts on certain sectors of the economy (...) and organise the supply of resources through state defence procurement," the note said. Also Read | Fight on, Vladimir Putin tells Russian troops after capture of Luhansk This could mean the government could compel employees of businesses providing goods to the military to work at night, on weekends and holidays, and without annual leave. Also Read | Ukrainian military raises national flag in Snake Island after Russian retreat Both bills were introduced to the State Duma by the Russian government. They still need to undergo second and third readings, be reviewed by the upper house of parliament and be signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Russian parliament gives initial approval to laws for a war economy

<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party has won majority in Russian parliamentary elections. At the time when 85 per cent of the votes were counted. United Russia party had bagged nearly 50 per cent votes while its nearest rival the Communist Party had just under 20 per cent votes in their favour.</p>

<p>Although United Russia's performance was enough to secure majority, it was weaker than 2016 elections when it had bagged about 54 per cent votes</p>

<p>Elections this time were preceded by massive crackdown on the opposition.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Vladmir Putin" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="efedc234-1e58-405e-a766-67852fa81566" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_9N24A9.jpg" /></p>

<p><em>(Vladimir Putin casts his vote online on September 17)</em></p>

<p>Putin's fiercest critic Alexei Navalny is in jail. In the run-up to the elections, Navalny's top allies were arrested while some of them fled the country. His organisation was termed 'extremist' and anyone associated was kept from running for elections.</p>

<p>Navalny's team had called for opposition supporters to back other candidates who could potentially defeat United Russia, most of them from the Communists, and results indicated the "Smart Voting" campaign may have had some success.</p>

<p>United Russia's general council secretary Andrei Turchak congratulated supporters at party headquarters on a "clean and honest victory".</p>

<p>But Navalny's allies said the vote was being falsified on a massive scale, pointing especially to repeated delays in releasing the results of electronic voting in liberal and opposition-friendly Moscow.</p>

<p>"We have rattled their political system. We forced them to either admit defeat or to falsify, in front of everyone, absolutely brazenly, without any shame. To admit moral bankruptcy," key Navalny aide Leonid Volkov said during a live stream on YouTube.</p>

<p>Authorities had taken drastic measures to deter the "Smart Voting" campaign, which provided lists of candidates with the best hope of denying Kremlin-aligned politicians a seat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The campaign's website was shut down and on Friday Apple and Google removed the Smart Voting app from their stores, causing an uproar among the opposition who accused them of giving in to Kremlin "blackmail".</p>

<p>Sources familiar with Google and Apple's decision told AFP the move was taken under pressure from Russian authorities, including threats to arrest the tech giants' local staff.</p>

<p>The popular Telegram messenger also removed Navalny's Smart Voting bot, and on Sunday Google Docs and YouTube videos containing the lists of recommended candidates were blocked.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Russian President Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party has won majority in Russian parliamentary elections. At the time when 85 per cent of the votes were counted.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party has won majority in Russian parliamentary elections. At the time when 85 per cent of the votes were counted. United Russia party had bagged nearly 50 per cent votes while its nearest rival the Communist Party had just under 20 per cent votes in their favour. Although United Russia's performance was enough to secure majority, it was weaker than 2016 elections when it had bagged about 54 per cent votes Elections this time were preceded by massive crackdown on the opposition. (Vladimir Putin casts his vote online on September 17) Putin's fiercest critic Alexei Navalny is in jail. In the run-up to the elections, Navalny's top allies were arrested while some of them fled the country. His organisation was termed 'extremist' and anyone associated was kept from running for elections. Navalny's team had called for opposition supporters to back other candidates who could potentially defeat United Russia, most of them from the Communists, and results indicated the "Smart Voting" campaign may have had some success. United Russia's general council secretary Andrei Turchak congratulated supporters at party headquarters on a "clean and honest victory". But Navalny's allies said the vote was being falsified on a massive scale, pointing especially to repeated delays in releasing the results of electronic voting in liberal and opposition-friendly Moscow. "We have rattled their political system. We forced them to either admit defeat or to falsify, in front of everyone, absolutely brazenly, without any shame. To admit moral bankruptcy," key Navalny aide Leonid Volkov said during a live stream on YouTube. Authorities had taken drastic measures to deter the "Smart Voting" campaign, which provided lists of candidates with the best hope of denying Kremlin-aligned politicians a seat. The campaign's website was shut down and on Friday Apple and Google removed the Smart Voting app from their stores, causing an uproar among the opposition who accused them of giving in to Kremlin "blackmail". Sources familiar with Google and Apple's decision told AFP the move was taken under pressure from Russian authorities, including threats to arrest the tech giants' local staff. The popular Telegram messenger also removed Navalny's Smart Voting bot, and on Sunday Google Docs and YouTube videos containing the lists of recommended candidates were blocked. (With inputs from agencies)

Vladimir Putin's party wins majority in Russian elections

<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday proposed spendings of billions of rubles ahead of parliamentary polls due in September. Putin made the announcement at his United Russia party congress. The parliamentary polls are likely to see the deeply unpopular party struggle.</p>

<p>The party congress took place in a Moscow convention centre. The Russian capital is seeing high number of new Covid cases.</p>

<p>The spending for public support Putin proposed included 50 billion rubles ($687 million) on public transport, 30 billion rubles for repairing roads and 20 billion rubles to clean up rivers, among other spending projects on infrastructure and healthcare.</p>

<p>"The program of the party of the leader has to be the program of the people," the 68-year-old Kremlin chief said in a speech broadcast on state television.</p>

<p>He also said the state would be allocating payments and new forms of support for families starting next month.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our task is to significantly increase the prosperity of Russian families and the incomes of our citizens," Putin said.</p>

<p>The gathering, which determines the ruling party's candidates and electoral platform for September's lower house of parliament vote, comes after the party has seen support tumble in recent years amid economic stagnation, entrenched corruption and widespread voter fatigue.</p>

<p>On Friday, state-run pollster VTsIOM published a survey showing that 30 percent of voters support United Russia -- a 10-point drop from the last lower house State Duma elections in 2016.</p>

<p><strong>Navalny neutralised</strong></p>

<p>But the party, which controls a majority of the State Duma, is projecting calm.</p>

<p>"It is a good base of support that can be further increased during the election campaign," party chairman and former president and prime minister Dmitry Medvedev said at the start of the month.</p>

<p>Putin, who came to power in 2000, himself boasts much higher support than his party with an approval rating of 61.5 percent, according to VTsIOM.</p>

<p>The pollster also predicts that three opposition parties that are seen as doing the Kremlin's bidding -- the nationalist LDPR, the Communists and A Just Russia -- will garner around 30 percent of the vote.</p>

<p>Further buoying the Kremlin's prospects in September is the recent dismantling of the movement of Russia's main opposition politician Alexei Navalny.</p>

<p>Barring his organisations from working in the country, a Moscow court earlier this month branded them as "extremist", while Putin signed legislation outlawing staff, members and sponsors of "extremist" groups from running in parliamentary elections.</p>

<p>Critics say the moves were aimed at ensuring that Navalny, who was jailed earlier this year for two-and-a-half years on old fraud charges he says are politically motivated, does not spoil September's vote for the Kremlin.</p>

<p>Despite the clampdown, Navalny's allies are promoting his Smart Voting strategy that backs candidates best placed to defeat Kremlin-linked politicians -- a tactic that has seen United Russia lose a number of seats in recent local elections.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday proposed spendings of billions of rubles ahead of parliamentary polls due in September. Putin made the announcement at his United Russia party congress.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday proposed spendings of billions of rubles ahead of parliamentary polls due in September. Putin made the announcement at his United Russia party congress. The parliamentary polls are likely to see the deeply unpopular party struggle. The party congress took place in a Moscow convention centre. The Russian capital is seeing high number of new Covid cases. The spending for public support Putin proposed included 50 billion rubles ($687 million) on public transport, 30 billion rubles for repairing roads and 20 billion rubles to clean up rivers, among other spending projects on infrastructure and healthcare. "The program of the party of the leader has to be the program of the people," the 68-year-old Kremlin chief said in a speech broadcast on state television. He also said the state would be allocating payments and new forms of support for families starting next month. "Our task is to significantly increase the prosperity of Russian families and the incomes of our citizens," Putin said. The gathering, which determines the ruling party's candidates and electoral platform for September's lower house of parliament vote, comes after the party has seen support tumble in recent years amid economic stagnation, entrenched corruption and widespread voter fatigue. On Friday, state-run pollster VTsIOM published a survey showing that 30 percent of voters support United Russia -- a 10-point drop from the last lower house State Duma elections in 2016. Navalny neutralised But the party, which controls a majority of the State Duma, is projecting calm. "It is a good base of support that can be further increased during the election campaign," party chairman and former president and prime minister Dmitry Medvedev said at the start of the month. Putin, who came to power in 2000, himself boasts much higher support than his party with an approval rating of 61.5 percent, according to VTsIOM. The pollster also predicts that three opposition parties that are seen as doing the Kremlin's bidding -- the nationalist LDPR, the Communists and A Just Russia -- will garner around 30 percent of the vote. Further buoying the Kremlin's prospects in September is the recent dismantling of the movement of Russia's main opposition politician Alexei Navalny. Barring his organisations from working in the country, a Moscow court earlier this month branded them as "extremist", while Putin signed legislation outlawing staff, members and sponsors of "extremist" groups from running in parliamentary elections. Critics say the moves were aimed at ensuring that Navalny, who was jailed earlier this year for two-and-a-half years on old fraud charges he says are politically motivated, does not spoil September's vote for the Kremlin. Despite the clampdown, Navalny's allies are promoting his Smart Voting strategy that backs candidates best placed to defeat Kremlin-linked politicians -- a tactic that has seen United Russia lose a number of seats in recent local elections. (With inputs from agencies)

Putin promises billions in public spending ahead of polls

<p>Russia's lower house on Wednesday passed constitutional reforms in their final reading that include the possibility of President Vladimir Putin extending his rule for another two terms.</p>

<p>A total of 383 State Duma lawmakers voted in favour of the package of constitutional amendments, with 43 abstentions and none against.</p>

<p>The measures must now be approved by the upper house Federation Council and be put to a public vote scheduled for April 22.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-pitches-for-constitutional-amendment-mps-back-package-of-changes-285487">Putin pitches for constitutional amendment, MPs back package of changes</a></strong></p>

<p>Putin announced the package of reforms in January, then repeatedly denied they were meant to extend his grip on power as he approaches the end of his fourth and final presidential term in 2024.</p>

<p>However, on Tuesday another amendment was introduced that would reset presidential terms, making it possible for Putin to run again if the constitutional court allows it.</p>

<p>The changes "are not just justified... they plan... for the strategy of the development of the country," Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said after Wednesday's vote, Russian agencies reported.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: </strong></p>

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<p>Other additions to the constitution include guarantees for pension payouts and minimum salaries, and giving parliament additional power to nominate the head of government.</p>

<p>They also give the president additional powers to fire judges in the country's higher courts and to reject laws passed by parliament.</p>


Russia's lower house on Wednesday passed constitutional reforms in their final reading that include the possibility of President Vladimir Putin extending his rule for another two terms.

Russia's lower house on Wednesday passed constitutional reforms in their final reading that include the possibility of President Vladimir Putin extending his rule for another two terms. A total of 383 State Duma lawmakers voted in favour of the package of constitutional amendments, with 43 abstentions and none against. The measures must now be approved by the upper house Federation Council and be put to a public vote scheduled for April 22. Also read: Putin pitches for constitutional amendment, MPs back package of changes Putin announced the package of reforms in January, then repeatedly denied they were meant to extend his grip on power as he approaches the end of his fourth and final presidential term in 2024. However, on Tuesday another amendment was introduced that would reset presidential terms, making it possible for Putin to run again if the constitutional court allows it. The changes "are not just justified... they plan... for the strategy of the development of the country," Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said after Wednesday's vote, Russian agencies reported. Watch: × Other additions to the constitution include guarantees for pension payouts and minimum salaries, and giving parliament additional power to nominate the head of government. They also give the president additional powers to fire judges in the country's higher courts and to reject laws passed by parliament.

Parliament passes reforms allowing Putin to run again

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