Russia to raise tax rate for unfiltered cigarettes by 30%

doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7450.1222-d

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Andrew Osborn

Moscow

Russia, home to some of the world's cheapest cigarettes and most committed smokers, is to risk the wrath of the tobacco industry and raise cigarette taxes by up to 30%.

The excise increase has already been approved in a first reading in the country's Duma (lower house) and is expected to take effect on 1 January 2005.

For Russia the move is a radical step, but the traditionally smoker friendly country is starting from an extraordinarily low base.

Domestically produced unfiltered cigarettes, which are popular with many Russians on lower incomes, cost as …