‘Nominal population profits have increased by 23% this year compared to 2004, whereas the factual profits have also gone up by 12%,’ Governor of Sverdlovsk Region Eduard Rossel announced at the press conference.

‘Debts concerned with paying off the wages and salaries have decreased from 250 million RUR in the second quarter of 2005 to 130 million RUR in December 2005,’ Mr Rossel says.