United Russia Deputy Oleg Kovalyov thinks this is way too much in a country where the average citizen earns less than $200 a month and, despite fierce opposition from some colleagues, is drafting legislation to sharply limit expense accounts.

"Deputies can now fly to any Russian region as many times they want and call any country in the world -- all at the state's expense," said Kovalyov, chairman of the Duma's Self-Regulation and Organization Committee.

"There should be some limits because some deputies are able to regulate themselves while others spend as much money as they can. This is unfair," he said by telephone Monday.

Kovalyov intends to submit an amendment to the law on the status of deputies that would regulate their spending.

"The limits on transportation and phone calls should allow deputies to perform their jobs, but not use government money for their personal affairs," he said.

A limited budget, Kovalyov said, could prevent deputies from "traveling to some regions, even on days when they are supposed to be at work in the Duma." At Kovalyov's initiative, a working group has been set up to hammer out the legislation. It was unclear if and when it might come up for a reading.

Deputies earn about 17,000 rubles ($600) a month, according to Kovalyov. But they are also entitled to free, elite housing and a 24-hour chauffeur service, while the government pays their electricity and cellphone bills. What's more, deputies and their families enjoy free vacations and exclusive medical care.

Alexei Melnikov, a former Yabloko deputy, said he appreciated Kovalyov's initiative. "Too many benefits make people too attached to their posts," Melnikov said. "A good salary would make them more responsible."

He said it would be better to raise salaries and hold deputies more accountable for their expenses than offer low pay but "feed them with all kind of benefits."

Melnikov said deputies supplement their salaries with various bonuses, such as overtime pay.

Sergei Proshin, a deputy with the nationalist-populist Rodina bloc, said he opposes any change to the benefits package. "It would open the door to corruption, because without good benefits deputies would be more concerned about getting money then fulfilling their duties," he said.

Proshin said a Duma salary is not enough to support a family and he is living largely on money he saved while working in business. "I know that a deputy's salary looks huge compared to what people earn around the country. But we have a lot of expenses as well," he said, without elaborating.

Another Rodina deputy, who asked not to be identified, said some deputies spend a lot of their own money and don't ask the government for reimbursement. "I spend a minimum of $4,500 a year to dress properly, since a decent suit costs at least $1,500," he said.

In addition, he said, he spends his own money when he invites foreign colleagues for dinner. "This is also part of my job, but I spend my own money."

Boris Nadezhdin, a former deputy from the Union of Right Forces, argued that deputies could afford to lose their benefits. "Most people in the Duma spent millions [of dollars] getting in, so it is clear that they have a sponsor or have enough money of their own. They can survive without any benefits," he said.

Nadezhdin said the rent-free apartments would typically cost about $2,000 a month. He added: "They get to vacation in places that cost about $100 a day. If we add all this up, they get salaries of about $50,000 a year."

Small steps have already been taken to trim perks. At the end of last year, deputies agreed to pay for travel on the Moscow metro and trains.

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The Moscow Times, April 13, 2004