Press Release, 23.08.2021

Photo: Nikolai Rybakov in Krasnodar

The Chairman of the Yabloko party, Nikolai Rybakov, sent an official letter to Veniamin Kondratyev, Governor of the Krasnodar Territory, demanding to allocate funds of the regional budget and provide support to the regional healthcare.

Rybakov’s address to the Governor runs that the budget of the Krasnodar Territory demonstrated that spending on healthcare curbed by 3.7 billion roubles as compared to 2020 (12.6% of the total expenditures against 19.8% in the budget of last year). However, 1.14 billion roubles were allocated for the programme “Cossacks of Kuban”, 557 million roubles were allocated to informing the population about the activities of the executive authorities of the region, which, in fact, is a political advertisement of the regional leadership, 66 million roubles were allocated to information coverage of the activities of the Legislative Assembly, it  is planned to spend 25 million roubles on “strengthening the unity of the Russian nation on the territory of the Krasnodar Territory,” and 41 million roubles will be spent on “creating conditions for the spiritual and moral development of citizens”.

“In the current conditions, I think it is necessary to abandon a significant number of these expenditure items and, as soon as possible, allocate these funds to support the healthcare system. According to our estimates, at least 1 billion roubles can already be allocated to combating the pandemic, supporting doctors, purchasing ambulances, medical equipment and medicines,” Rybakov said.

The Yabloko Chairman also noted that the Krasnodar Territory is among the regions with the most difficult situation as regards the coronavirus. According to the Ministry of Healthcare, the region lacks 6,437 of medical personnel, including 1,058 doctors, 1,329 nursing staff, and 4,050 of junior medical personnel.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 65,000 cases and almost 5,000 deaths have been recorded in the region. The recovery rate is 75.8%, and according to this indicator, the region is ranked the last but one among the Russian regions. The vaccination rate of the population is 29%, and 80% of hospital beds are occupied.

“People need help right now, not someday later,” the Yabloko leader said.

It should be noted that Nikolai Rybakov is in the Krasnodar Territory on a working visit. He has already visited Yeisk, the villages of Kushchevskaya and Kanevskaya. Rybakov examined the flooded areas of Anapa and talked with local residents. In Krasnodar, the Yabloko leader discussed with residents the lack of infrastructure, the lack of kindergartens and the unlawful construction of a business centre in the Yubileiny district.