State Duma may discuss new govt anti-crisis package on March 11

MOSCOW. March 9 (Interfax) - A new package of the Russian government's proposals on supporting the Russian economy will be submitted to the State Duma on Wednesday, and it may be considered in the chamber's Friday meeting, State Duma First Deputy Speaker Alexander Zhukov said.

"I have just returned from a government meeting that addressed another package, a new package of nine bills, which we will discuss in the State Duma this week. I think they should reach the State Duma today, and committee [meetings] will be held tomorrow; a discussion in the Duma will apparently take place the day after tomorrow," Zhukov said at a United Russia meeting on ensuring socioeconomic stability.

It will comprise a whole bloc of legislative changes, Zhukov said. In particular, he mentioned a bill on the possibility of introducing external administrations to prevent bankruptcy and preserve business for companies in which 25% belongs to businesses from foreign states imposing sanctions against Russia, Zhukov said. "The bill is essentially aimed at enabling these organizations to continue working. I will not go into details," Zhukov said.

Decisions to introduce external administration [of companies] will be made by arbitration courts. Courts will be able to introduce protective measures, including restrictions on staff dismissals, from the day of the acceptance of claims.

The other blocs of legislative changes, in particular, will concern support for the construction industry, and for aviation with regard for the problem of aircraft leasing, the zeroing of the VAT rate for the hotel industry, and exemption of deposits exceeding one million rubles from the revenue tax.