Russian state spending could hit $275 bln in 2009 – deputy PM

MOSCOW – Russia’s budget expenditures could grow by 600 billion rubles ($17 billion) to 9.6 trillion ($275 billion) this year, First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said on Friday.

He added it was only a preliminary figure and that it would be confirmed following a Cabinet session.

The official said a new draft budget would be presented to the State Duma together with a new anti-crisis plan. 

He said that the plan was formulated so that even in the worst-case scenario the country’s economic development goals through 2020 would be met on the strategic level, albeit with some adjustments on the tactical level.

“We are not reversing our strategic plans, while tactically we should proceed from the situation we’re in,” he said.