Russian govt proposes spending cuts in view of crisis

MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian government, facing its worst economic crisis in a decade, on Wednesday proposed cutting planned spending by 10 percent this year and 5 percent over the next two years in all categories except military and social expenditures.

Russia’s economy has been battered by lower energy prices, a collapse in the value of the ruble and Western sanctions over its involvement in Ukraine. Russia’s GDP is expected to decline by 4-5 percent this year, the first drop since 2009. The ruble has lost half of its value while the Standard & Poor’s ratings agency downgraded Russia’s credit rating to a non-investment — “junk” — level for the first time in more than a decade.

The anti-crisis plan released on the government’s website on Wednesday lists measures that authorities will take to support the economy including over $3.7 billion to prop up Russian banks and $700 million in agricultural subsidies.

Speaking at the upper house of the Russian parliament, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said that the government does not expect oil prices to go back to $100 a barrel so “we and our economy will have to adapt to new conditions.”

The government’s budget proposal would cut spending by 10 percent this year and 5 percent in 2016 and 2017. The plan, which has yet to be approved by parliament, will not affect military and social spending, which account for 4.2 percent and 5 percent of spending, respectively.