Press Release, 20.03.2015

Today, on 20 March, 2015, the State Duma will examine in the first reading the bill envisaging that idexation of social allowances in line with inflation should be abolished.

YABLOKO party has made a statement urging the parliament to cut on military expenditures rather than economise on indexation of social allowances.

“We realise that it is impossible to maintain the real level of social benefits during deep economic crisis. But even after the abolition of the indexation of social payments the government plans to spend almost half of the reserve fund in 2015,” runs the statement.

YABLOKO notes that economising should be done on military spending instead.

The statement runs that YABLOKO is against the abolition of indexation for the following payments:

1. monthly payments to veterans,

2. monthly payments to people with disabilities, as well as compensation for the maintenance of guide dogs,

3. maternity leave and other benefits for citizens with children,

4. maternity capital,

5. payments to victims of radiation accidents at the Mayak plant and victims of nuclear tests in Semipalatinsk,

6. payments to the families of police officers killed on duty,

7. mortgages fees for the military,

8. military pay,

9. scholarships for students.

YABLOKO urges the State Duma to introduce amendments to the bill that would allow to retain in force indexation of the aforementioned benefits and payments.