TAX REVENUES INCREASE.

Russia’s federal government succeeded in collecting 30 percent more tax revenue in October than in September, officials said. The government is particularly gratified since all the revenue came in the form of hard cash, not credit notes as in the past. Nonetheless, only 16 percent of Russian enterprises have paid their taxes in full and on time. Companies specializing in oil extraction and oil processing have been the worst defaulters. Moreover, only 14 regions paid their tax bills in full, which means that 75 regions failed to pay all that they owed. In 22 regions, payments to the federal budget amounted to less than 30 per cent of the targeted amounts. More than 80 percent of all tax revenue came from four regions: Moscow city, the Khanty-Mansi and Yamal-Nenets Autonomous okrugs (Russia’s largest oil-and gas-producing regions), and Sverdlovsk oblast. (Itar-Tass, Radio Mayak, November 11; RTR, November 12)

Russian Defense Policy: Seeking a Modus Operandi?