Press Release, 24.04.2020

On 23 April, the Regional Council of the Tula branch of Yabloko conducted a video conference and adopted an appeal to Alexei Dyumin, Governor of the Tula region, calling him to initiate a review of part of the regional budget expenditure items allocating 1.4 billion roubles to healthcare.

The activists of the regional Yabloko branch expressed their concern connected with the experience of certain regions in European countries and the USA, where belated measures led to paralysis of the healthcare system and cost thousands of human lives.

The regional branch of the party is proposing to allocate 1.4 billion roubles for additional financing of anticoronavirus measures, such as additional payments for doctors involved in the fight against the infection (100,000 roubles for doctors and 50,000 roubles for paramedical staff), 150,000 tests for coronavirus, 150 new artificial lung ventilation devices, respirators, protective masks, suits, disinfectants and other medical supplies, as well as for the conversion of medical facilities under COVID-19 patients and organisation and infectious boxes.

The source of these funds, according to the activists of the Tula branch of Yabloko, should be the following expenditure items of the regional budget for 2020:

– the reserve funds of the government of the Tula region (440 million roubles);

– provision of economic support to the Association Council of Municipalities of the Tula Region (62.4 million roubles);

– subsidies to the Fund Innovative Scientific and Technological Centre “Composite Valley ”(330 million roubles);

– formation of a positive investment image of the Tula region, including organisation of presentation and exhibition activities and maintenance of the regional fund Agency for Economic Development of the Tula Region (80.0 million roubles);

– financing of Tula sports teams, such as Arsenal, under the article Development of Sports of the Highest Achievements (488.7 million roubles);

– measures for the development of the gas engine fuel market (40 million roubles).

“Unfortunately, in difficult epidemiological conditions, we cannot afford Arsenal’s football matches, formation of a positive image and contests for the best headman. After eliminating the threat of the spread of the Covid-19, it will be possible to return to consideration of the issue of financing the costs proposed for reduction,” said Vladimir Dorokhov, Chairman of the Tula branch of Yabloko.

The party’s regional branch notes that these proposals for additional financing of medicine are investments in human capital, life and health of residents of the Tula region. The increase in wages for doctors and paramedics partially compensates for the high risk of infection they are exposed daily to, and a sufficient number of personal protective equipment and modern medical equipment guarantee successful fight against the spread of coronavirus infection in the Tula region.

It should be noted that Yabloko forwarded to the President, government and parliament a package of its proposals with urgent measures to support people, workers and private businesses in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. The party also calls on the President and government to expand the list of supported NGOs.

In addition, the party Chairman Nikolai Rybakov sent letters to the Governors of more than 20 Russian regions urging them to redirect funds allocated for campaigning for amendments to the Constitution to fight against coronavirus.