Russian premier admits spending on army comes before welfare

(Interfax – September 23, 2013) Russian Prime Minister Dmitriy Medvedev has acknowledged that security and the armed forces are a priority for state spending and social needs will have to take their place in the queue, Interfax news agency reported on 23 September.

“I hope that after we complete the reorganization and restructuring of the armed forces, on which we’re spending heavily, we will be able to reconfigure the budget for a rapid increase in spending on education, healthcare and science,” he said at a meeting with senior members of the upper house, the Federation Council.

He conceded that the budget is “lopsided”, but that is to make up for a decade and a half in which the military were starved of cash. “That has to end sometime, so we’re now putting a lot of money into security and defence,” Medvedev said. “But on the other hand, spending on other areas of our life is suffering.”