Duty-free shops will open in Russia for foreign diplomats and employees of international organizations. The decision of the Council of Ministers on the creation of such exits dated July 26, 2022 and numbered 1330 was published on the portal of regulatory legal acts of the government on July 27. It will come into effect on August 27.

It will be possible to pay for goods both in rubles and in foreign currency (US dollars and euros). The product range will include alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, jewellery, perfumes and cosmetics, confectionery, smartphones, watches – in general, products subject to duty-free customs procedure.

The Telegraph has already compared the new network with the Soviet “Beryozka” – a store where they sold food and consumer goods to foreigners and Soviet foreign workers (they paid with special certificates and checks of Vneshposyltorg and Vneshtorgbank). It is not yet clear what the name of the new stores will be.

As can be seen from the document, these stores are located in Moscow and St. Petersburg will open. Only a Russian company can own them.

Only diplomatic staff (ambassadors, ambassadors, advisers, trade representatives, secretaries, attachés) and their families, consular officers and their relatives living with them, employees of state missions in international organizations, personnel or representatives of international organizations can serve. Shopping in new stores located in Russia. When purchasing, you will need to present a document confirming the position and accreditation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vladimir Dzhabarov, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council International Relations Committee, commented on the innovation made for the Parliamentary Newspaper. He also added that such customs duties become an additional source of money for the country in which it is located.

The news began to be discussed in telegram channels.

– wrote “Tatler Hero” on the anonymous channel.

– the publisher Mikhail Shakhnazarov wrote, referring to the famous parody news site.

– Wrote Christina Potupchik.

– wrote actress and screenwriter Larisa Bravitskaya.

– wrote journalist Natalia Oss.

The venture may be related to the lack of money in the country. After the implementation of the sanctions, the state’s foreign exchange reserves were frozen, so gas trade was also transferred to payment in rubles, and the Central Bank imposed some restrictions on the withdrawal of money from the accounts of individuals. This led to the depreciation of the dollar and the strengthening of the ruble. Also, if sanctions are imposed against the National Clearing House and the Moscow Stock Exchange, there is a danger of hindering exchange trading. At the end of July, the Bank of Russia discussed with foreign exchange market participants how to determine the exchange rate of the ruble against the dollar and euro in this case.