Putin Raises Russia’s VAT, Orders Media to Blame West and Shield His Image

• Despite earlier promises, Putin’s government will raise Russia’s VAT from 20% to 22% in January.
• The Kremlin is directing state media to blame Western countries for economic difficulties and avoid linking the tax hike to Putin personally.
• Media guidelines emphasize highlighting positive budget aspects and increased social spending, while downplaying the VAT increase.
• The strategy mirrors tactics used by Hungary’s government: blaming external factors for economic problems.
• Analysts say the VAT hike reflects Russia’s shrinking economic options due to sanctions and lower energy revenues.

Source: dailynewshungary.com

Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.

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