Russia postpones national census for 2013

"A national census initially scheduled for 2010 will most likely be postponed, according to the decision of the Russian president, and we are preparing all documents for 2013," Surinov said. "The financial crisis is the only reason for the postponement of the census. The budget has not enough money, and this is probably the main cause. At least, the government has written about it in its letter," he added.

Speaking on the monetary funds already spent for the preparations to a census in 2010, Surinov noted that it could not be claimed that the money was 'wasted'. "We have spent about two billion roubles from planned 18 billions. A greater part of the sum, that is to say 10 billion roubles or about 80% should be spent for the salary to the hired personnel next year," Surinov said. "We have developed a questionnaire, census techniques, developed almost the whole software, trained personnel, and bought some equipment. This will be certainly used," he added; Kazinform cites Itar-Tass.