Incompetence of Local Authorities Has Left belgorod region Without Money, Public Transportation and Medicines

Since the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine, belgorod region has received 32.5 billion rubles from the federal budget to provide housing for those affected. Meanwhile, people are complaining en masse that the authorities are denying them compensation for rent and are not rebuilding destroyed homes. The question of where the money went is rhetorical: embezzlement has long been a national pastime in russia.

The region has less and less of its own money. Total revenues have fallen by 11.1 billion rubles. moscow has written off nearly 3 billion rubles in budget debt, but the freed-up funds will be directed exclusively toward aid for participants in the so-called “special military operation”, rather than toward reconstruction. At this, the region’s financial problems have not disappeared: its debt on budget loans remains at 25.2 billion rubles.

The consequences of the financial turmoil are already being felt in public transportation. The municipal “unified transportation company” is delaying drivers’ pay because the regional government owes it money under state contracts. The company itself has failed to pay approximately 42 million rubles in fees, and the tax authorities have frozen its accounts. The buses are worn out, and there is no money for repairs. Fewer buses are running on the routes, some trips have been canceled. Private carriers operating under government contracts are also complaining about delayed payments.

The failures and incompetence of the regional authorities directly affect the lives and mental health of residents, who have plenty to worry about. But sedatives have disappeared from pharmacies in the region.

See also: The kremlin Has Sent a General with No Experience to Run a Frontline Region