INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Authorities in southern Russias Saratov region have actually ordered local dining establishments to allocate part of their income to fund
the war in Ukraine, the Kommersant service daily reported Tuesday, mentioning the local Labor Ministry.Restaurants will reportedly willingly
contribute 0.2% of their revenue to a special-purpose account devoted to Russian soldiers in Ukraine
It stays unclear just how much the authorities in Saratov, situated around 725 kilometers (450 miles) southeast of Moscow, expect to raise
or how the funds will be used.Russia has actually already earmarked 13.5 trillion rubles ($134.8 billion)for defense and security almost 40%
of its 2025 federal budget.Last month, Saratov area Governor Roman Busargin said regional farmers and other socially accountable businesses
had proposed producing the special-purpose accounts for what Moscow calls its unique military operation in Ukraine.Busargin stressed that
the donations will not be taxed and can not be redirected for other purposes.Saratov is at least the 2nd Russian region to enforce business
contributions for the war effort, according to Kommersant.The Nizhny Novgorod region, 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of Moscow, established
a similar fund last fall, needing organizations looking for state assistance to contribute 5% of their earnings to soldiers and their
families.Federal legislators from Russias Communist Party have actually tried to pass comparable across the country legislation two times
but failed both times.Saratov region Communist Party legislator Olga Alimova voiced support for the restaurant levy but warned that its
payment system might do not have transparency without proper legal amendments.A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are dealing
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