Audit Chamber Reports Misspending Of Assets Allocated For Reconstruction In Yakutia

The volume of assets allocated for the restoration work in flooded Yakutia, Siberia, were overstated by 249m rubles (about $8.33m), a representative of the Audit Chamber reported at a press conference today. He recalled that all in all the government of Yakutia received 785m rubles ($26.25m). After an inspection the Audit Chamber suggested that the Finance Ministry should freeze 108.2m rubles ($3.62m) earmarked for Yakutia at accounts in the federal treasury department. The Audit Chamber official stressed that they have no claims to the Emergencies Ministry and the State Construction Committee. The Audit Chamber laid the blame for the misspending on the Yakut government. The chamber will report the final results of its inspection in January or February 2002.