Press Release, 12.11.2020

Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov sent an appeal to Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Chairman of the Accounts Chamber Alexei Kudrin demanding to reconsider the allocation of budget funds for provision of financial aid to Syria.

On Wednesday, 11 November, it became known that Russia allocated more than USD 1 billion for the restoration of power grids, the industrial complex of Syria and other purposes.

Nikolai Rybakov notes in his appeal that financial aid was directed to Syria in a critical situation with the financing of the Russian health care system. The appeal also runs that in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, a number of Russian regions are in a critical situation with provision of equipment, medicines, individual protection equipment and COVID-tests.

The head of Yabloko also recalls that, according to the Ministry of Finance, the total regional budgets deficit will reach 700 billion roubles by the end of 2020, and the total public debt of Russian regions has already reached 2.2 trillion roubles as of 1 October.

“I consider it impossible in the current conditions to allocate funds to Syria. Russian state authorities should, first of all, be guided by the interests of Russian citizens, and ensure high living standards for them,” Nikolai Rybakov emphasises.

In the situation of epidemic in Russia, Nikolai Rybakov demands that Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, as soon as possible, carry out work to assess the situation in health care institutions and redistribute the funds provided for aid to Syria in favour of assistance to Russian citizens in a pandemic.

The head of Yabloko demands from Alexei Kudrin to check the implementation of the law on the federal budget and estimate the spendings on aid to Syria as of corresponding to Russia’s national goals and strategic objectives, and in case of violations take measures to prevent further violations in accordance with the powers of the Accounts Chamber.