"It is fundamentally important for us not to impose a digital ruble"

The Ministry of Finance will not force the use of the digital ruble — it is an exclusively voluntary instrument. This was stated by First Deputy Finance Minister Irina Okladnikova in an interview with Izvestia at the Moscow Financial Forum. She stressed that the main purpose of its implementation is traceability and stricter, preventive control. In the future, such an asset can also be used in external calculations. The First Deputy minister also said that artificial intelligence technologies are actively used in preparing the budget. Why the financial plan has to be changed several times a year and how the ministry works with errors — in an interview with Izvestia.

"We will consider the possibility of using the digital ruble in external settlements"

— In October, the first stage of federal budget execution is launched using the digital ruble for a limited list of expenses. What kind of expenses are we talking about?

— First of all, I want to emphasize that we are talking about the voluntary use of the digital ruble. No experiments will be conducted without the consent of the customer and the recipient of budget funds. No coercion is intended. Therefore, the types of expenses for which such operations will be carried out will be determined based on this voluntary choice. It is fundamentally important for us not to impose the digital ruble on the participants of the budget system, but to offer it as an alternative.

— And how will the digital ruble be used in the future?

— In fact, the same way as cashless payments are used today. Thanks to the support of the president and parliament, as well as amendments to legislation, the Federal Treasury has received the authority to open accounts, manage them, and conduct transactions with the digital ruble. But for the recipients and main managers of funds, business processes will not change in any way.

The main purpose of introducing the digital ruble is traceability and stricter, preventive control, rather than follow—up. This is the key point. In the future, we will consider the possibility of using the digital ruble in external settlements. Where this will simplify processes for budget system participants, the new tool will also be used.

"AI helps to prevent mistakes in working with the budget"

— Continuing the topic of technology: last year you said that the Ministry of Finance was the first to use artificial intelligence in budget management. Have you continued to use neural networks this year?

— We have not just continued, but taken a step forward: we have begun to apply AI technologies much more intensively and are making big plans to introduce them into our system. We are talking about a new module and processes related to the achievement of national goals. Our goal is to simplify the work for both the main managers of funds and budget recipients, as well as for employees of the Ministry of Finance: to remove some of the routine operations from them so that they can focus on more complex tasks. The experience turned out to be successful, so we will develop and expand it. We definitely don't plan to stop.

— What exactly does artificial intelligence help you with?

— First of all, AI allows you to prevent mistakes in working with the budget, which were previously identified after the fact by employees or subsequent financial control. The system tells you where something has been done wrong, and thereby reduces the administrative burden on all participants in the budget process.

"The frequency of budget adjustments directly depends on changing conditions"

— This year, the Ministry of Finance has set a hard limit on the timing of amendments to the budget. Earlier, the Accounting Chamber noted that frequent adjustments increase the risks of disrupting plans. Do you agree with this position? And why is there a need for such restrictions at all?

— We adjust the federal budget twice a year: in spring, in May–June, and in autumn. This is a standard practice that has always existed. I don't think it's common. The frequency of budget adjustments directly depends on changing conditions. Today we live in a situation where literally every day there are events that affect the spending of funds, priorities and mechanisms for their distribution. Therefore, twice a year is definitely not a lot.

— Then why are the deadlines so tight?

— Everything is connected with the need to complete the financial year as early as possible. The sooner we accept the changes, the sooner we will start working on contracts and new measures that will be included in the adjustment. We have not yet finalized the draft law, but we are acting as soon as possible to ensure its implementation.

— But the limits have always been set?

— Yes, the limits on budget submission for three years and the terms of its consideration by the Parliament are fixed in the legislation. The only thing that is determined flexibly is the moment when the formation of a specific adjustment begins. As soon as we submit a draft amendment to the State Duma, it is subject to the same deadlines as any budget law. Therefore, the sooner the document is submitted, the sooner it will be discussed in Parliament and submitted to the President for signature.