Press Release, 14.08.2021

Photo: Governor Alexander Drozdenko / Photo by lenobl.ru

Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov is going to send an official letter to Alexander Drozdenko, Governor of the Leningrad Region, with a demand to reallocate funds in the regional budget so that to support the regional healthcare.

Nikolai Rybakov’s letter runs that the maintenance of officials compared to last year increased by 294 million roubles, while Yabloko discovered that expenditure on healthcare fell by 4.9 billion roubles compared to 2020 (12.7% of total expenditures against 15.6% in the budget of 2020).

In addition, 6 million roubles were allocated for the content of the regional government’s website, 21 million roubles for sociological surveys, and 435 million roubles for press, radio and television. The region spends 41 million roubles  on the senseless maintenance of the regional representative office in Moscow, 37 million are allocated for “patriotic education”, and 69 million roubles are expected to be spent on subsidies to youth public organisations.

“The expenditure side of the budget is full of expenses that cannot be called timely and effective. In the present conditions, I consider it extremely necessary to abandon a significant number of these expenses and as soon as possible allocate these funds to support the healthcare system. According to our estimates, at least 800 million roubles can already be allocated to combating the pandemic, supporting doctors, purchasing ambulances, medical equipment and medicines. Fighting the pandemic and preserving the life and health of citizens should be the main priorities of the regional budget,” Rybakov said.

Rybakov also noted that the Leningrad Region is one of the regions with a difficult situation in connection with the coronavirus. According to the operational headquarters, about 60,000 cases and more than 2,300 deaths have been registered in the region since the beginning of the pandemic. But the number of those vaccinated in the Leningrad region remains very low (23%): according to this indicator, the region is ranked 47th among the regions of Russia. Now and then there come reports on shortages of vaccine, doctors, medical equipment and ambulances. In such emergency situation, the healthcare system of the Leningrad Region needs increased attention and additional funding.

On 14 August, Nikolai Rybakov is on a working visit in the Leningrad Region. He will visit Vyborg, Gatchina and the Krasny Bor landfill site.