Veteran Russian Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov suggested using part of the trillions of rubles held in bank accounts by households and businesses to support the economy and state finances, prompting criticism from senior lawmakers and renewed debate over the security of private savings.
Speaking at the Communist Party's election congress, Zyuganov said Russian citizens held 67 trillion rubles ($904.5 billion) in bank deposits, while businesses had another 63 trillion rubles ($850.5 billion), for a combined total of 130 trillion rubles ($1.76 trillion).
"That is three state budgets," Zyuganov was quoted as saying by newspapers Vedomosti and broadcaster RTVI. "They are sitting there and enriching bankers."
Zyuganov argued that around 30 trillion rubles ($405 billion) could be mobilized quickly and said President Vladimir Putin, as commander-in-chief during wartime, could resolve the issue with a single decree.
The remarks touched on a sensitive issue in Russia, where officials have repeatedly sought to reassure savers that their deposits are safe despite persistent speculation that authorities could one day restrict access to bank accounts or freeze funds amid wartime economic pressures.
