| Ilya Klebanov wants to unite the Arkhangelsk region and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug The idea of consolidating Russian regions haunts politicians who want to somehow make a mark in improving Russian life. Yesterday, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the North-West Ilya Klebanov proposed merging the Arkhangelsk Region with the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (NAO), following the example of the Perm Region and the Komi-Permyak Autonomous Okrug.
Mr. Klebanov said that 89 regions “is a lot for effective governance of the country.” That is why the plenipotentiary called himself a supporter of the idea of consolidating the subjects of the federation. The merger of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, according to Mr. Klebanov, is a premature question, since “such regions are not suitable as a pilot project in the North-Western region.” And he proposed making the merger of the Arkhangelsk region and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug a pilot project. At the same time, however, the plenipotentiary cautiously asked that his statement be considered not the official position of the federal authorities, but simply “a question for discussion.” And although, as Klebanov said, the government does not yet have “official documents” on the unification of two more regions, they may well exist. to appear - there would be political will.
It is unknown, however, whether the unification of these two regions is the political will of Mr. Klebanov alone or whether there are more serious forces behind this. It should be remembered that the Rosneft company has very serious interests in the Nenets Okrug, and the governor of the Arkhangelsk region, Anatoly Efremov, is considered a person close to this corporation.
In informal conversations, regional administration officials do not hide the fact that the Nenets Okrug, sparsely populated but rich in oil, gas and other mineral resources, would be a very profitable acquisition for the Arkhangelsk region. But Klebanov’s idea has not yet been officially commented on.
But the head of the district, Vladimir Butov, is unlikely to agree to the merger. He has already spoken out about Mr. Klebanov’s consolidation ideas. According to him, they must have a “clear justification”, and the merger “in no case should be accepted administratively from above.” “This is the right of the population to choose which region to live in, so the issue of merger can only be resolved through a referendum,” Mr. Butov noted yesterday.
However, he is most likely finalizing the last months. Mr. Butov is due to appear in court soon, and he may be asked to give up the fight for the governor's seat in exchange for the closure of the criminal case. Then, after March 14, a more accommodating leader may appear in the district. But even in this case, it is not a fact that the local elite will agree to cede their rights to resources to the Arkhangelsk elite. So even if Mr. Klebanov is only voicing someone’s ideas, uniting Arkhangelsk with the Nenets Autonomous Okrug will be much more difficult than forming the Perm Territory. Victor MATVEEV, St. Petersburg |
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