September 15, 2015, 10:47 pm

Yakunin does not want to become a senator

Last week, RIA Novosti, citing sources in the Federation Council, reported that Yakunin “with a high degree of probability will not receive leadership positions,” although previously he was promised the position of deputy chairman of the chamber / M. Stulov / Vedomosti

Ex-president of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin, included in the list of candidates for senator from the Kaliningrad region, appealed to Governor Nikolai Tsukanov, who won the elections, with a request not to appoint him to this position. He himself told reporters about this on Tuesday, explaining: “I believe that only there can a person bring maximum benefit to society, and to himself, when he uses the set of knowledge and experience that is characteristic of him” (quote from Interfax).

“Vladimir Ivanovich called me, congratulated me on my victory, and then asked me not to appoint him as a senator. I received this news with regret, because I believe that Vladimir Ivanovich would be useful for the region, his opinion would be significant in the Federation Council. But this is his decision,” Tsukanov told Vedomosti. According to him, asking Yakunin why he changed his mind about joining the Federation Council “was incorrect.” The governor promised to name his representative in the upper house at the inauguration on September 21 (see inset).

Tsukanov's choice

Each gubernatorial candidate proposes three candidates to the Federation Council before the elections. Tsukanov’s list, in addition to Yakunin, included the mayor of Kaliningrad Alexander Yaroshuk and the current Kaliningrad senator Oleg Tkach.

Last week, RIA Novosti, citing sources in the Federation Council, reported that Yakunin “with a high degree of probability will not receive leadership positions,” although he was previously promised the position of deputy chairman of the chamber. And Kommersant wrote on Tuesday that Yakunin will be given an office in a “spare” building on Novy Arbat, and not in the main one on Bolshaya Dmitrovka and a non-prestigious Ford company car.

Speaking about his future activities, the ex-president of Russian Railways promised to “continue to benefit society”, concentrating “on expert scientific and public activities, primarily in the field of international relations and intercivilizational dialogue.” He also recalled that for more than 20 years he worked in such organizations as the St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation, the Center for National Glory and the public forum “Dialogue of Civilizations.” In addition, Yakunin, included in Western sanctions lists, as it turned out after his nomination to the Federation Council, has the rank of ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary.

Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Public Associations Yaroslav Nilov believes that Yakunin will focus on charitable and social activities: “He is a believer, he often visits Mount Athos, his St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation delivers holy fire from the Holy Land to Russia every year.” Yakunin either did not want to be an ordinary senator, applying for a more status position, or decided to wait for a more interesting proposal, says political scientist Evgeniy Minchenko. In his opinion, the ex-president of Russian Railways may also follow the “Cherkessian model”: “[Former presidential envoy to the North-Western Federal District and director of the Federal Drug Control Service] Viktor Cherkesov went down the steps and calmed down as a deputy of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. I wouldn’t be surprised if Yakunin joins the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and becomes a deputy from the Communist Party.” But you shouldn’t write him off, the expert is sure: “In Politburo 2.0, he was not a full member anyway, but only a candidate. Actually, Timchenko and the Rotenbergs ate him up, as more influential comrades.”