Russian parliament passes record budget, boosting defense spending and shoring up support for Putin

By EMMA BURROWS
Associated Press

The lower house of Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, has passed a record federal budget which aims to increase spending by around 25% in 2024, with record amounts going to defense. Defense spending is expected to overtake social spending next year for the first time in modern Russian history at a time when the Kremlin is eager to shore up support for President Vladimir Putin as Russia prepares for a presidential election in March. Russian lawmakers say the budget for the next three years was specifically developed to fund the military and mitigate the impact of Western sanctions on Russia. Record-low unemployment, higher wages and targeted social spending should help the Kremlin ride out the domestic impact of pivoting the economy to a war footing.