Russia may break into isolated groups:experts warn policy makers

Moscow, Sep 29 (UNI) Experts have warned that the Russian society will continue to break into isolated social and regional groups, eventually rebuffing the country's development prospects, unless Kremlin concentrates harder on social policy.

''In the past few years, we have been witnessing a disruption of the social space as well as active segregation in Russia, where dozens of isolated economic set ups have developed," said Yevgeny Gontmakher, head of the Social Policy Center at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Economics.

According to Mr Gontmakher more than half of Russia's population is on the margin of economic development, as it is still struggling to survive. Hence super-projects like, "nanotechnologies" or the "Sukhoi SuperJet 100" are still a dream to them, Ria Novosti.

''Seven Chinese newspapers are being published in Moscow alone.

The president-to-be needs to think hard about the kind of country he will be running," he warned.

''The ongoing demographic crisis and the problems plaguing the education system will soon transform Russia beyond recognition.

It will cease to be a country of Russians, but turn into a land of immigrants like Canada" he added.

Social scientists are concerned about these bothersome split of society.

"Economic growth is concentrated in Moscow and Tyumen only, while all the other regions are close to stagnation today," said Natalia Zubarevich, regional programs director at the Independent Institute for Social Policy, a Moscow think tank.

UNI