Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin on Friday called for tougher control over budget spending on equipping the army with state-of-the-art weapons after a check uncovered violations that led to budget losses of more than 16 billion rubles.
A check by the Federal Service for Defense Contracts revealed about 1,500 cases of the illegal use of state money earmarked for defense spending, RIA-Novosti reported Friday, citing the watchdog's statement.
The misuse cost the federal budget 16.1 billion rubles ($536 million), the statement said.
The defense industry gets "huge money," but since spending is not being controlled properly, such violations happen, Rogozin said.
(MT)
