MOSCOW. Nov 15 (Interfax-AVN) - There are plans to increase the funding to pay for the Defense Ministry's operating costs by 22.8 billion rubles ($8.5 million) before this year-end.
This initiative was moved by a State Duma commission concerned with federal budget expenses for Russian defense and national security. Amendments to the law on the federal budget of 2006 is being prepared for the second reading, a source in the lower chamber told Interfax-AVN.
With additional funding allocated, Russia's total defense budget will grow from 734.3 billion rubles ($27.2 billion) to 757.2 billion ($28.1 billion), or by 3.1%. "The funding will be provided from the additional budget revenues. It is normal practice to make amendments to the budget based on the results of the three quarters of the year," the source said.
He noted that the $8.5 million is almost the addition that was considered necessary by the parliament during the discussion of the 2006 budget last autumn.