Audit Chamber on restructuring debts of foreign states to Russia

The Board of the Audit Chamber has considered a report devoted to the results of auditing of documents concerning debts of foreign states to Russia.

According to materials submitted to the Board's meeting, legislation in this sphere is to be improved. In particular, the Budget Code allows for the restructuring and writing-down a part of a debt within the framework of Russia's participation in international financial organizations, without ratifying corresponding agreements by the parliament, which contradicts the law on international agreements.

As a result, after Russia's joining the Paris Club, some $25bn in debts to Russia have been written off. The government has not submitted corresponding reports to the State Duma.

As a result of the audit, it was found that some unjustified decisions had been made concerning the restructuring of debts of foreign states to Russia. In particular, the restructuring of a $12.5m Ukrainian debt brought a $8.5m loss to the federal budget.

The results of the auditing are to be submitted to the Russian President, the General Prosecutor's Office and both houses of the Russian parliament.