In the Russian president’s fourth televised statement in as many weeks about the coronavirus pandemic, he promised direct financial support to businesses hit hardest by the nationwide lockdown, including small and medium-sized businesses and airlines
- State payments of 12,130 rubles ($160) per month to small and medium-sized businesses for every employee in April and May, provided firms maintain 90% of their workforce.
- A package of 200 billion rubles ($2.6 billion) of support for regional budgets from the federal government.
- Government support worth at least 23 billion rubles ($307 million) for airlines.
- Reforms to the government-backed system of interest-free salary loans for firms, which has recieved criticism since it launched with businesses and consumers reporting high refusal rates and difficulty accessing credit.
The president has previously come under fire from economists and business leaders for not offering a comprehensive support package for businesses sooner, as Russia is now in the third week of a national shutdown which has shuttered most non-essential shops, restaurants and other service businesses.
