A member of the Russian State Duma called for an end to the war due to the threat of economic collapse
For the first time since the start of the full-scale invasion, the State Duma of the Russian Federation has publicly acknowledged that the aggressor nation’s economy is unable to withstand a prolonged continuation of hostilities.
Renat Suleimanov, a deputy from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), stated that there is an urgent need to wind down the so-called “special military operation” due to the critical strain on the federal budget.
This is the first time such rhetoric has been voiced by a representative of the Russian parliament, indicating the emergence of serious crisis phenomena in Russia’s financial system.
Suleimanov made his statement against the backdrop of a noticeable shift in political rhetoric ahead of the fall elections.
The Russian lawmaker noted that the enormous financial expenditures on the defense sector are completely stalling the development of other sectors of the state.
According to him, the militarization of industry creates only an illusion of stability, while simultaneously destroying the domestic market.
The parliamentarian cited specific figures demonstrating the scale of the disaster in the country’s economic sector.
“It is quite obvious that the economy will not withstand a prolonged continuation of the special military operation,” the representative of the occupiers emphasized.
He added that “officially, 40% of the federal budget goes to defense and security. What kind of development, investment, or capital expenditure can we even talk about? Neither tanks nor shells have consumer value: the economy produces them, but the population cannot consume them.”
Suleimanov acknowledged that such expenditures “provide employment and wages in the defense sectors, acting as a kind of driver,” but “at the same time drive inflation and cuts to other expenditures—social and investment.”
The Russian politician also drew attention to the unprecedented duration of the current conflict, which exceeds the historical scope of past major wars.
At the same time, he expressed concern about a large-scale crisis that will arise in Russia following the demobilization of hundreds of thousands of military personnel.
According to Suleimanov, simply cutting military spending “won’t make the problems go away.” The Russian official fears a social explosion within the country if the occupiers return to civilian life.
“Passing a budget with reduced military spending isn’t the hardest part. But what will happen to the people employed in the defense sector? To those who are currently under arms? A million people will return to civilian life. Where are the jobs, decent wages, and social reintegration?” the deputy notes.
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