According to Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the YABLOKO faction in St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly, the city budget was implemented only by 51 per cent for the first nine months of 2012. This had been announced by St.Petersburg government on the eve of discussion of the budget in the parliament. This means that many social facilities, roads, etc. were not built.

According to Yavlinsky, failure to implement the budget in 2012 demonstrates the overall work of the government. "This non-implementaiton of the budget shows that the government of St. Petersburg fails in solving its main task. If this non-implementation goes on, then what is the point in the social obligations declared by the city government? If these tasks are never fully implemented? What's the point in the continuous discussions that there is no enough funding for this or that thing? If the money is in the treasury, then what it is spent on? What's the point in raising taxes, excise taxes, etc.? " Yavlinsky said.

Grigory Yavlinsky also called the deputies to revise their approach to the budget and not to vote blindly, "We need to launch a dialogue with the administration why the situation with the budget is so unsatisfactory. Otherwise the situation will not change in the future."

Press Release

November 27, 2012