Checks by the Russian Audit Chamber have revealed that funds are being allocated appropriately. Russia has allocated major funds to the Abkhaz and South Ossetian economies since the two states declared their independence. However, opposition figures of the two countries claim that their governments have misused the funds. Sergey Stepashin, representative of the Russian Audit Chamber, was send to Abkhazia to investigate. According to him, the inspection took the Abkhaz opposition as well as Sukhumi officials by surprise.
This was the first check of the allocation of Russian money in Abkhazia, and it didn't reveal any misallocation of funds. Nevertheless, the Audit Chamber admitted that the level of control over budget money in Abkhazia is inadequate. Mr Stepashin said that Abkhazia is due to establish a modern civilized system of financial control and create an independent body for surveillance over budgetary funds.
After this inspection, the Abkhaz government is able to refute opposition and media statements about the misuse of Russian money. The checks revealed the source of the parliament's concern: it could not trace some aspects of the money transactions, as they were executed directly by the government, and this fact triggered suspicion among opposition MPs. That is why Mr Stepashin suggested that a transparent public organ of finance control should be established.
Nevertheless, the Abkhaz opposition was not reassured by the results of these checks. One of opposition leaders, Raul Khadjimba, declared that Mr Stepashin failed to mention several violations, to the sum of 347 million rubles, uncovered by an Abkhaz-Russian commission, thus giving the Abkhaz government a free hand to misappropriate the money. Mr Khadjimba pointed out that, in spite of Bagaph's admission of the existence of corruption within Abkhaz administrative structures, no one was legally punished or even fired.
Mr Stepashin, in his turn, chose to dismiss all these remarks by the opposition and assured the Abkhaz government that Russia will continue to fulfil its obligations towards its partner. Last year, Russia allocated 4.9 billion rubles to Abkhazia, and 2.3 more in 2009.
Meanwhile, 71% of the Abkhaz budget is made up of Russian donations, but all these funds are still insufficient to restore all the healthcare, transport and municipal structures.
According to the president of Abkhazia, Sergey Bagapsh, Russia promised to allocate 4.23 billion rubles this year.
Pavel Martinov. Exclusively for VK
