The Moscow Times reports on an FSB draft order that changes transport rules for service members and their family members.
Members of the FSB Collegium — the service director, his deputies, and other senior officials — will be able to travel first class not only on duty, but also for rest and treatment. If first-class seats are unavailable, they must be provided with business class.
Senior officers and servicemen holding senior officer posts are proposed to receive business class instead of economy class. For heads from deputy department chief and above, if the position calls for the rank of colonel or captain first rank, “comfort” class will be provided.
Relatives of FSB employees entitled to free travel will be able to claim the same seats. The families of deceased servicemen will retain the category that was assigned to the serviceman on the day of his death.
Employees entitled to economy class will be able to buy “comfort” class tickets if economy class is unavailable at the time of purchase. Reimbursement will require approval from a supervisor and a carrier certificate confirming the absence of tickets in the required class.
For official trips with weapons, ammunition, special equipment, documents, or military property, the FSB will be able to pay for a separate compartment or cabin, and for air travel — additional seats, including in the aircraft cargo hold. The state pays for all work trips by employees, while vacation expenses are reimbursed only to those serving in the Far North and equivalent territories in the Ural, Siberian, and Far Eastern federal districts, as well as abroad.
The draft also provides for “optimization of expenses” on uniforms: reducing the issuance of parade caps, woolen tunics, white shirts, and ties with a gold-colored clip. At the same time, such ties, as well as ties with a shiny clip, will remain for contract servicemen and officers.
The material also cites data on the growth of federal budget spending on the силовики bloc: in 2027, 21.4 trillion rubles is planned for the “National Security” section, which includes the budgets of the FSB, the Interior Ministry, the National Guard, and other special services — 43.9% of total spending; in 2028 — 21 trillion rubles (41.2%), in 2029 — 21.3 trillion rubles (39.7%). The budget deficit this year, according to the publication’s estimate, will reach 7.3 trillion rubles, and in 2027 it will amount to 5.5 trillion rubles.
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