cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/49654291

Moscow plans to transfer the funds of 37 million citizens to a new state scheme. The money will be used to finance state projects amid sanctions and war.

“The main beneficiary could be the NPF “Blagosostoyanie” (Welfare), whose shareholders include Russian Railways, Gazprombank, and VEB.RF. That is, those structures that are under direct state control’” according to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service.

The intelligence service reminded that in 2014 - immediately after the occupation of Crimea and the imposition of sanctions - the government “froze” the accumulative part of pensions. At that time, 6% of the 22% of pension contributions that were supposed to go to citizens’ personal accounts were simply redirected to payments to current pensioners, plugging a hole in the pension fund. The freeze was declared temporary, but it continues to this day.

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