Support The Moscow Times!

Moscow Lifts Covid Fines to Prop Up Falling Incomes

Moskva News Agency

Moscow will stop enforcing fines for Covid-19 violations in a bid to prop up falling incomes amid rising inflation and the economic fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced Wednesday.

“We’ve taken many steps to mitigate the pressure from sanctions in recent weeks,” Sobyanin wrote on his website.

“There are other challenges and problems today. We see a drop in real incomes. That’s why I’ve decided to declare Covid amnesty.”

From June 1, the city will stop collecting financial payments and reimburse residents and businesses 13.6 billion rubles ($240 million) for previously paid fines, Sobyanin said.

The only exception will be for those who did not follow orders to self-quarantine.

The Russian capital dropped many of its remaining coronavirus regulations, including a citywide mask mandate, in mid-March.

But authorities have still been collecting outstanding fines from businesses and individuals who broke rules while pandemic rules were active. 

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more