Putin orders to reduce poverty in 2022, raise social payments

MOSCOW, Mar 16 (PRIME) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the government on Wednesday to reduce the poverty level in 2022 by increasing the social payments, and pensions.

"Even in the current difficult situation we have to cut the level of poverty and inequality this year. This is a task within the reach even now," Putin said.

He asked the government to ensure automatic payments in case of changes of the financial situation of families. Support of people losing their jobs must be analyzed.

Putin said that foreign asset freeze must become a lesson to the Russian business "that there is nothing more secure than investing in own country." Russia will respect property rights unlike the Western countries. He added that private business must play a key role in addressing the current economic issues. The president also ordered to raise advanced payments under state contracts. He ordered to elaborate incentives, monetary support and preferences for business. 

The terms of fulfillment of state programs may change, but the business and the government must accelerate imports replacement. Putin separately promised to support agriculture.

He said that all Russians know the foreign companies that cowardly betrayed their partners and did not fulfill the liabilities to the employees. 

Putin ordered the heads of the regions to monitor the prices for first priority goods, pharmaceuticals and their availability, the labor market situation, and to reduce excessive demand for goods and services. Putin pledged an additional increase of the regional subventions.

There can be more attempts to raise pressure on Russia, but the sanctions have seriously hurt the global economy.

The U.S. and the E.U. have in fact defaulted on their obligations to Russia by freezing its foreign currency reserves, Putin said. "Now everyone knows that financial reserves can be simply stolen," he added.

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