Reform in the media

President Promises Free Services

The president has promised to sign the controversial law on budgetary organizations after guaranteeing in front of TV cameras that educational and medical services would not become paid ones everywhere. Authorities are trying to ward off protests similar to those that were organized after the monetization of benefits, says the opposition that voted against the draft law.
On Thursday, the president called a meeting with ministers in order to discuss again the law on the transformation of budgetary institutions, which will basically divide budget-financed medical, educational, and cultural institutions into those that can provide paid services and those that cannot. The governmental draft law was approved by the State Duma and the Federation Council in late April. An unprecedented number of amendments – more than 300 – had been made by the second reading, of which almost half were proposed by the government, and about 150 amendments were finally accepted.
The main amendment delayed the entry of the law into force till January 1, 2011.
The full text is available at: http://www.gazeta.ru/politics/2010/05/06_a_3363769.shtml