According to Rosbalt, the reason for the closure of Rikolatva is to save the 23 million RUB the authorities annually pay to sustain the settlement.
The only production enterprise in the village was the clay factory “Muskovit”, which now is bankrupt. To move the 430 inhabitants to central parts of Russia will cost about 118 million RUB, that will have to be covered by the state budget.
Before a closure can be made, the Murmansk regional government’s resolution needs approval from the regional parliament and the Russian government.
