MOSCOW, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Funding from the central government to poorer Russian regions is based on how much they support the ruling United Russia party during elections, a study found.
The study by the Higher School of Economics in Moscow found a 1 percent increase in United Russia's lead over rivals at specific provinces translated into "significant" increases in federal money allocated to the region, RIA Novosti reported Friday.
President Vladimir Putin is a member of United Russia.
The rule only applied to regions with growth rates under 4 percent, the study concluded, basing its findings on official government data for budget transfers to 78 Russian regions between 2001 and 2008.
"Since United Russia's creation in 2001, the authorities have actively used transfers for political gains," the study said.
The Kremlin did not comment on the report.
