Translated material
Vice region
The communists want to change the status of the westernmost region of the country
Kaliningrad communists want to achieve a special status for the westernmost region of the Russian Federation, endowing it with greater independence, residents with bonuses similar to those in the north, and a governor (appointed directly by the president, and not approved by regional assemblies on the initiative of the head of state, as now) with a vice-governor. premiership powers. Local communists believe that such a political reform will firmly tie the region to the “mainland” part of the country and solve its economic problems.After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Kaliningrad region was cut off from the main territory of the country, turning into a semi-exclave - there are no land borders with the native “mainland”, there is only a sea connection. This provided ample food for all sorts of thoughts on the topic of one’s own independence and self-sufficiency arising from the unique geographical location.
In the 1990s, some local politicians even called for the creation of a Baltic Republic and associate membership in the European Union. The activities of the party they created were subsequently declared illegal, and from now on they exchange their thoughts regarding the future of the Kaliningrad region, perhaps, only on Internet forums. Since then, any proposal that in one way or another affects a change in the status of the westernmost region of the Russian Federation is perceived through the prism of potential separatism. Therefore, probably, no other subject of the Russian Federation emphasizes their belonging to Russia as often and as actively as is done in the Kaliningrad region.
The local communists also had to prove that there was no sedition in their idea, who proposed giving the Kaliningrad region a special status. This initiative was put forward by the deputy chairman of the regional Duma from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Yuri Semenov, one of the most experienced regional politicians who worked in leadership positions back in Soviet times. “The Kaliningrad region is the only subject of Russia that is separated from the territory of the Russian Federation by foreign states, and the administrative border is at the same time the state border of the Russian Federation. The Kaliningrad region, due to its unique geographical location, is of particular importance for the national security of the Russian Federation, as well as the foreign policy, defense and economic interests of the state,” says the draft document prepared by him.
Comrade Semenov proposes to clearly establish a number of responsibilities of the federal government in relation to the westernmost region of the Russian Federation. These include, for example, ensuring free visa-free passenger and cargo transit between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of Russia, annual compensation from the state treasury for income lost due to the isolation of the regions (up to 10 billion rubles), bonuses to salaries and pensions for local residents similar to those in the north. for the same “isolation”, benefits for business (in particular, banking) and so on. Regional authorities are proposed to transfer additional powers - to use subsoil and all resources in the region, provide tax preferences, simplify the procedure for export-import transactions and customs regime.
At the same time, Yuri Semenov believes that it would be appropriate to raise the rank of the head of the region, making him not just a governor, but a deputy prime minister of the federal government. “The world practice of the existence of such territories has shown that direct presidential rule is established everywhere or their special status is recognized. And the costs arising from isolation are compensated. I think that regional authorities would function more stable if the highest official of the region were appointed directly by the president of the country. Moreover, the Kaliningrad governor needs the status of deputy prime minister, so as not to run around among ministers, not to knock on their doors, but to calmly solve local problems, of which, as you know, there are a lot,” says Comrade Semyonov.
The author of the bill emphasizes that there is no hint of separatism in his ideas: “We have never raised the issue of separating the region. On the contrary, we are talking about strengthening the influence of the federal center and maximizing the unification of our economies.”
Lawyers from the regional Duma and the regional government gave a negative opinion on the initiative of the Kaliningrad communists, citing the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which states that all subjects of the Russian Federation are equal. “But life shows: this is not so. It's more difficult for us than for others. The law on special status will consolidate the uniqueness of the region once and for all. Otherwise, governments change, and we have to prove again and again that we are special,” insists Comrade Semyonov.
Initially, he intended to enlist the support of the entire regional Duma in order to send to the State Duma a formalized draft of the federal constitutional law “On the special status of the Kaliningrad region.” The bill was submitted for consideration to the relevant Duma committee, and representatives of the United Russia faction criticized it in advance. However, Mr. Semenov made a knight's move, withdrawing the project from consideration and joining forces with Kaliningrad State Duma deputy Yuri Savenko, first deputy chairman of the defense committee, representing the United Russia faction. “Savenko will try to introduce a law - no longer federal constitutional, but simply federal - for consideration by the State Duma. If necessary, this can also be done by the Communist Party faction. Yes, Savenko is in United Russia, and I am in the Communist Party, so what? This is not a problem, I have always tried to find a compromise in order to solve the problems facing the region,” says Yuri Semenov.
According to him, the idea of a special status did not arise now. “The law has been prepared and discussed for a long time. The reason for its appearance was the difficult situation in which the region exists. Our incomes are lower than the Russian average, and prices are higher,” explained the vice speaker. He said that back in Soviet times he expected problems to arise in the Kaliningrad region. “After Lithuania left the Soviet Union, the borders of an independent state appeared between our region and the main part of the country. I secured a meeting with USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990, which was attended by Chairman of the Council of Ministers Nikolai Ryzhkov. I said that in the near future we would find ourselves cut off, I proposed making a Danzig-type corridor 99 km long with access to Grodno. It is possible to lay a road, a railway, communications - a gas pipeline, for example, and everything else. We would be protected completely and forever!” - recalls Yuri Semenov.
According to him, he directly told Mr. Gorbachev: “Mikhail Sergeevich, people will not understand us if we do not think about the future of the region. So many lives were laid down for her. How will we travel if the Lithuanians can refuse us at any time?” “Ryzhkov supported me. But Gorbachev replied: “You are asking these questions too early, you are panicking. “Everything will be fine with Lithuania,” said Comrade Semenov, noting with regret that he was right and the issue, unresolved 20 years ago, has to be raised again. But if it was early then, is it too late now?