MOSCOW, August 5 (Itar-Tass) — Russia’s government approved a 2.5 billion rouble project to preserve and reconstruct military memorials, monuments and cemeteries in 2011-2015.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signed the relevant decree.
The funds will be earmarked from the federal budget. Moreover, regions will allocate another 125 million roubles.
As of January 1, 2011, there are almost 47,000 Russian (Soviet) military cemeteries, of them 24,318 are located on the territory of Russia and another 22,654 in foreign countries.
The Defence Ministry responsible for the project’s implementation inspected selectively WWII monuments. The inspection demonstrated that a mere 14.3 percent of monuments are in good conditions, another 67.8 percent – in satisfactory condition, while 17.9 percent – in bad condition.