President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to increase the salaries of presidential administration officials to the level of military salaries, according to the Kremlin's website.
Beginning Sept. 1, the ranks and salaries of administration staffers will correlate with military ranks and salaries. Their pay will be adjusted for inflation at the same rate.
As a result, monetary remuneration for administration officials will increase, but benefits like free health care and travel to health resorts will be cut, said Dmitry Peskov, the president's press secretary.
Heads of Defense Ministry departments get at least 120,000 rubles ($3,790) per month, while the salary of a deputy defense minister amounts to 150,000 rubles, a ministry official said.
Meanwhile, most presidential administration officials are paid about 42,000 rubles to 67,000 rubles per month, a Kremlin staffer said.
But top Kremlin officials get much more — up to 350,000 rubles, according to their income declarations.
(MT)
