Russian region has no funds to comply with federal law on public sector pay rise.

Text of report by Russian NTV on 30 December

[Presenter] The authorities of Saratov Region say they are unable to comply with the new federal law providing a pay rise for public sector employees. A decree putting the law into effect was signed by Russian President [Vladimir Putin] not long ago. It was promised that funds to implement the law would be provided, however nobody specified how exactly.

[Correspondent Vladislav Sorokin] Public sector employees in Saratov Region have not seen any increase in their wages for a long time. A pay rise was much hoped for, especially since prices in local shops began to climb up. At last the law granting a pay rise was …