Former Omsk governor Leonid Polezhaev, no matter how he refused, was given back his pension increase

Deputies of the Omsk Legislative Assembly are concerned about the welfare of the former head of the region, Leonid Polezhaev, who retired. According to amendments to local legislation, pensioner Polezhaev will receive an additional payment (more than 5 million rubles per year) and free medical care. The deputies decided to maintain the additional payment, despite the fact that earlier the ex-governor demonstratively refused all benefits, asking to retain only medical care.

The legislative assembly (LA) of the region considered the draft law of the Omsk region No. 346-5 “On amendments to the code on public positions and the state civil service of the Omsk region” yesterday. As explained by the head of the main organizational and personnel department of the region, Sergei Turyanchik, amendments to the document initiated by former governor Leonid Polezhaev provide for the preservation of only free medical care after his retirement. The ex-official refused the remaining benefits and payments due to Mr. Polezhaev under regional legislation. The deputies of the Legislative Assembly were asked to adopt the document in the first reading. The powers of Leonid Polezhaev, who led the Omsk region for more than 21 years, expired on May 21. The new governor, former head of Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Omsk CJSC Viktor Nazarov, took office on May 30.

As Kommersant reported, according to regional law No. 601-OZ “Code on public positions and state civil service of the Omsk region” (adopted by the Legislative Assembly on December 22, 2004), upon retirement, the former Omsk governor could count on substantial benefits and payments. He was entitled to personal security, full compensation for damage in case of property damage, a personal vehicle, free telephone communication, payment for annual sanatorium treatment, as well as a monthly pension supplement in the amount of 85% of the official salary. In addition, the ex-official was to receive a lump sum payment equal to five years' salary. The official income of Leonid Polezhaev in 2010 amounted to 6.412 million rubles, last year - almost 6.4 million rubles. Consequently, the annual supplement to the pension may exceed 5 million rubles.

However, in mid-April it became known that, on the initiative of Mr. Polezhaev, a new draft law had been prepared, providing only free medical care for the retiring governor. On April 26, the bill was submitted to the Legislative Assembly, and a month later it was considered by the Legislation Committee. Its chairman, Sergei Kalinin, then proposed maintaining a pension supplement for the former governor in the amount of 85% of the monthly remuneration and not depriving him of free medical care. The majority of deputies voted to recommend this version of amendments to the Legislature.

Nevertheless, yesterday Sergei Turyanchik presented the document in the version proposed by the ex-governor. Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Vladimir Varnavsky invited the deputies to vote separately for the options of Mr. Polezhaev and the relevant committee. As a result, the former governor’s amendments were not adopted: they were supported by 16 of the 38 deputies present (there are 44 deputies in the Legislative Assembly: 26 United Russia members, 10 Communists, four Right Russia members and three Liberal Democrats). The amendments of the relevant committee, which provide for the preservation of an 85% supplement to pensions and free medical care, were supported by the majority of deputies (25 United Russia members) in the first reading.

Viktor Nazarov, who was present at the meeting, did not comment on the new bill. The press service of the regional government also did not explain the attitude of the head of the region to the adopted law, citing his busy schedule.

Chairman of the Legislation Committee of the regional Legislative Assembly, United Russia member Sergei Kalinin, believes that the deputies made the right decision. “An official of this level must be separately socially protected, especially since this is not provided for by federal law. For the budget, the adopted option is optimal - compared to what was before, the burden on the budget has decreased,” the deputy explained.

Opposition factions of the regional Legislative Assembly believe that the adopted version of the law brings the situation to the point of absurdity. “Polezhaev continues to refuse money, and the legislative assembly, it turns out, hands it to him: “Take it, dear, you’re wrong,” commented the head of the Communist Party faction Andrei Alekhin. The leader of the Right Russia party in the regional parliament, Alexei Provozin, agrees with him. “Politically, this whole performance is unprofitable for Polezhaev himself. For the regional budget, several million rubles are errors. Let's take a teacher who has worked conscientiously in her post and put the governor's figures next to her pension figures. The main aspect here is moral,” noted Mr. Provozin.

The next meeting of the Legislative Assembly, at which amendments to the code will be considered in the second reading, will take place on June 21.

Anastasia Mitkovskaya, Omsk

“Take it, dear, you’re wrong.”