President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev visited Khanty-Mansiisk last week speaking about energy-saving measures local government is responsible for. The Ambassador of Canada Ralph Lysyshyn made a one-day visit to Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Region. Consul General of France in Ekaterinburg Claude Crouail visited Tyumen Region aiming to strengthen cultural and economic relations between France and Western Siberia. Find out more from the weekly report by UralPolit.Ru.
President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev visited Khanty-Mansiisk last week speaking about energy-saving measures local government is responsible for. The Ambassador of Canada Ralph Lysyshyn made a one-day visit to Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Region. Consul General of France in Ekaterinburg Claude Crouail visited Tyumen Region aiming to strengthen cultural and economic relations between France and Western Siberia. Find out more from the weekly report by UralPolit.Ru.
Politics
For the first time in the history of Sverdlovsk Region a town mayor was dismissed by the demand of the governor. The mayor of Artemovsky, a suburban town near Ekaterinburg, Yury Manyakin, was fired. External governance will most likely to be appointed.
United Russia members left their official positions in the government and the party’s regional division. Nikolai Voronin left the chair of the Regional Duma speaker. He is replaced by Elena Chechunova, also a member of the United Russia. The Secretary of the regional division of United Russia Viktor Shepty also quit.
The first vice-mayor of Chelyabinsk Sergey Davydov has been appointed Acting Mayor. He is to replace Mikhail Yurevich, who is going to become a new governor of the region. Mayor’s elections will take place in October 2010. Until then Sergey Davydov will be the Head of the City.
Governor of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District Dmitry Kobylkin signed several orders appointing executive officials. Importantly, he reduced the number of his administration officials from 18 to 12.
New deputies of the Kurgan Regional Duma were officially registered on March 22, 2010 and held their first session on March 26, 2010. Next time they will vote to select Duma’s chairman, his first deputy and form committees and commissions. The United Russia is going to recommend Vladimir Kazakov for the position of the Regional Duma chairman.
Economy
Dmitry Medvedev chaired a commission session on modernization and technological development of economy in Khanty-Mansiisk. The President of Russia firmly defined the responsibility local authorities hold in regard to efficient use of energy at the industrial enterprises and social premises. Dmitry Medvedev also spoke with the governor of Yugra Natalia Komarova about social aspects of economy modernization.
Dmitry Medvedev also traveled to West Sakhalin oil pool and Priobskoe gas deposit to open the first block of the Priobskaya gas-turbine thermal power plant.
VSMPO-Avisma announced its withdrawal from the founding shareholders of Ural Gold LLC (Uraskoe Zoloto). The titanium corporation used to own 51 percent of shares of this Ural gold-mining company. 49 percent belonged to UGMK (Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company). Experts consider, the sale of controlling shares will help restore operating funds of VSMPO.
Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Krasnouralsky Chemical Plant” decided not to lay off 730 workers as had been planned before. Prosecutor of the town of Krasnouralsk issued an order prohibiting such a massive lay-off since it goes against the Labor Code of Russia.
The Ambassador of Canada Ralph Lysyshyn made a one-day visit to Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Region. Aiming to see “real Russia” the Ambassador met with the new mayor of the city Evgeny Teftelev and visited Magnitogorsk State University which is the headquarters of the Canada Research Center. Ralph Lysyshyn also went to see the industrial premises of MMK (Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works).
The program for complex development of natural resources of Yamal has been submitted to the government of Russia for approval. The program suggests complex measures including the creation of LNG plant (liquefied natural gas production facility) based on South-Tambeiskoy gas deposit. This program requires governmental funding. All project documents were prepared by Gazprom and the administration of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District.
Society
A monument in the memory of Boris Eltsin will be erected on February 1, 2011 in Ekaterinburg. The decision was made by the governor of Sverdlovsk Region Alexander Misharin during a meeting with the delegation of the Boris Eltsin Foundation. The federal budget will allocate nearly 2 billion rubles for this purpose.
The governor of Chelyabinsk Region Pyotr Sumin held a meeting with seven sportsmen who returned home from Vancouver after the Olympic Games. The governor spoke about the results of the Games and the plans for the next Winter Olympics to take place in Sochi in 2014.
Consul General of France in Ekaterinburg Claude Crouail visited Tyumen Region last week. This visit was organized under the auspices of the Year of France in Russia and aimed at developing cultural and business cooperation between Tyumen Region and France. The Consul General noticed that French businessmen know very little about the business opportunities in Western Siberia.
Biathlon World Cup finals opened in Khanty-Mansiisk last week. 170 strongest sportsmen from 23 countries gathered in Siberia to compete. The first day a Russian biathlete Yana Romanova became the first prize winner.