Press Release, 29.04.2019

Arthur Parfenchikov, head of Karelia, submitted to the parliament of the Republic of Karelia draft amendments to the budget, which provide for an increase in co-financing of scientific research within the framework of an agreement with the Russian Foundation for Basic Research in 2019.

The budget of the Republic allots 1 million roubles for these purposes; according to the Governor’s amendments, funding will double – to 2 million roubles.

This is exactly what Emilia Slabunova, Chair of Yabloko and MP in the parliament of Karelia, was trying to achieve.

Back in December 2018, Slabunova introduced amendments into the budget of the Republic for 2019, which envisaged, among other things, an increase in co-financing of research projects for the winners of the regional competition of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research. Under an agreement between the Foundation and the Republic, such projects are funded by 50 per cent by the republican budget and the Foundation. This year the parties must spend 2 million roubles each for the implementation of research projects, however, only half of the funds were provided for in the republican budget for 2019.

Deputies of the Karelian parliament did not support the amendments of Emilia Slabunova.

Slabunova put the question for consideration by the relevant committee of the Legislative Assembly of the Republic.

Finally, in mid-April, the politician voiced the problem during the Governor’s report to the deputies of the regional parliament on his work in 2018. Emilia Slabunova criticised the work of the Governor, also because of the fact that the leadership of Karelia “had failed to work with the scientific and educational complex of the Republic.”

“The Republic does not form an order for scientific research, does not use the potential of these institutions, and there is no reason to hope that the goal of achieving a high-tech innovative economy, set by the Republic’s development strategy, will be achieved,” she said.