Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov has proposed that the Russian government could quickly seize approximately 30 trillion rubles from banks, which he states currently hold 67 trillion rubles belonging to citizens and 63 trillion rubles from enterprises. This totals about 130 trillion rubles, equivalent to three state budgets, he noted, claiming these funds are enriching bankers rather than contributing to production or the nation’s success.
Zyuganov further suggested that if he were in the president’s position, he would implement this change with a single decree. His remarks have drawn criticism and were labeled a “provocation” by Anatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma’s financial market committee, who suggested that such statements may have been influenced by external forces from Ukraine or the West.
Following backlash, Zyuganov later retracted his assertion, calling it a “trick”. The Communist Party’s press service clarified that his comments did not imply any intention to confiscate deposits but were meant to highlight the substantial financial resources within the banking system.
Contextually, last November, Andrey Zubets, director of the Financial University’s Institute of Socio-Economic Research, warned of a potential freeze on personal savings due to fears of rampant inflation if citizens begin to withdraw their accumulated funds. In contrast, Central Bank head Elvira Nabiullina dismissed such claims as “nonsense,” emphasizing that banks profit from interest on loans and remain stable.
