Sergey Naryshkin becomes parliament head of Russian-Belarusian Union

Sergey Naryshkin has become the Speaker of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Russian-Belarusian Union, introduced by Deputy Speaker Vladimir Andreychenko. He will replace former Russian Speaker of Parliament Boris Gryzlov, RBC reports.

Vice Speaker of the Federation Council Alexander Torshin and head of the parliamentary committee for the CIS and compatriots Leonid Slutsky have become Naryshkin’s deputies.

Russia and Belarus founded the Union State on April 2, 1996. It used to be called the Community of Russia and Belarus. The union consists of the Supreme State Council headed by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Council of Ministers headed by Russian Prime Miniater Vladimir Putin and the Permanent Committee.

The Parliamentary Assembly approved the budget of the union for 2012, totaling 4.827 billion. Russia contributed 3.167 billion, Belarus 1.705 billion. They will finance 39 programs in industry, energy, construction, agriculture, transport and communication.

11.5% of the sum will be spent on military and security assistance. 17% will be spent on social policy, healthcare and physical education, ecology, emergency situations, education, culture and media.