Russian Lawmakers to Receive Early $59K Bonuses Ahead of September Vote – Reports

July 8, 2026 Vyacheslav Volodin. duma.gov.ru Russia's 450 lower-house lawmakers will receive early bonuses averaging about 4.5 million rubles ($59,000) each ahead of September's parliamentary elections, with State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin reportedly saying the payments were intended to narrow a pay gap with government ministers. The bonuses, totaling 2 billion rubles ($26.2 million), will be paid in early September before elections to the State Duma on Sept. 20, the Vedomosti newspaper reported Tuesday, citing a source familiar with a closed-door parliamentary meeting. Volodin said the bonuses would be funded with savings from the lower house's budget and told lawmakers the money could also be used during their election campaigns, Vedomosti reported. He also expressed frustration that details of the bonus payments had been leaked to the media, the newspaper said. According to the Kommersant newspaper, Volodin told lawmakers their salaries no longer reflected their position in Russia's system of government, as they earn significantly less than cabinet ministers despite formally holding the same status. Russia's 2026 federal budget allocates 17.6 billion rubles ($230.6 million) for the operation of the State Duma, up 15% from the previous year and 44% higher than in the last pre-war budget in 2022. Of that total, about 11.5 billion rubles ($150.7 million) is earmarked for salaries for lawmakers and parliamentary staff, while roughly 3.2 billion rubles ($41.9 million) is allocated for goods and services supporting the legislature. The Kremlin sharply reduced public disclosure requirements for senior officials following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. President Vladimir Putin first banned the publication of information on the salaries and assets of lawmakers and government officials, and in 2025 abolished the requirement for them to file annual income declarations. According to the pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda, State Duma deputies earned monthly salaries of about 500,000 rubles ($6,550) in 2025. In addition to their salaries, lawmakers receive official housing in Moscow or a housing subsidy, a government car with a driver, free medical care, free travel on public transportation, including trains and flights, and other benefits. Read this article in Russian at The Moscow Times' Russian service. Read more about: State Duma , Volodin Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia’s State Duma Speaker Demands USAID Funding Lists From Congress “Those who were funded from abroad should publicly apologize and seek penance on Red Square,” Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said. 2 Min read Russian Lawmakers Pass Bill Paving Way for Taliban’s Removal From Terrorist List The legislation outlines a legal mechanism for groups to be removed from the Russia’s official list of outlawed “terrorist” groups. 2 Min read Russia to Introduce Language Exams for Migrant Children to Enroll In School The latest ban comes amid renewed anti-migrant sentiment and a raft of new legislation targeting migrants in the country. 1 Min read Russian Parliament Speaker Calls for Extradition of Ex-Putin Aide Chubais “Where’s Chubais? Take him and extradite him,” State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said during a parliamentary session. 1 Min read