The regional portal of the Murmansk Region, Open Electronic Region, published a draft law that may give a transport tax exemption to communities of indigenous minorities of the North engaged in traditional economic activities.

According to the draft law, amendments will be made to the regional law on transport tax. Communities of indigenous minorities of the North that have registered cars with an engine capacity of up to 150 HP, snowmobiles, snow and swamp-going vehicles, quad bikes, and motor boats will be exempted from tax in 2023-2025.

The draft law is undergoing public discussion.

The Murmansk Region is home to the Saami – the indigenous people of the Russian North, Norway, Finland and Sweden. According to Murmanskstat, about 1,600 Saami live in the Arctic, of whom 17% consider Saami language to be their mother tongue, as the 2010 census showed. In total, there are about 40 Saami communities in the region. They are mainly engaged in fishing and reindeer herding.