25 May 2004 10:34
RUSSIA: AUDIT CHAMBER GOES AFTER CHUKOTKA AND ITS GOVERNOR...
Sergei Ryabuchin, an auditor for the Audit Chamber, made public on 20 May an audit into the financial status of
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, which is led by Governor and oligarch Roman Abramovich, according to which the okrug is
insolvent, RTR and NTV reported on 20 and 21 May. According to Ryabuchin, Chukotka's debts to the federal budget
have reached 9.3 billion rubles ($320 million), more than double its annual revenues of 3.9 billion rubles. "The
region is practically bankrupt," he said. Ryabuchin also said that Abramovich is personally responsible for illegal
wage hikes given to doctors, teachers, and other public-sector workers. He added that his agency has handed over the
audit documentation to the Prosecutor-General's Office. Meanwhile, Audit Chamber Chairman Sergei Stepashin said
that Abramovich should quit as the governor of Chukotka, Interfax reported on 22 May. "The results [of the audit]
show that Abramovich has let the president down very badly," Stepashin said. VY Copyright (c) 2004. RFE/RL, Inc.
Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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