Roman Arbitman: His boyfriend

In the first week of February, the heavens frowned dangerously. Because of the clouds, a hand leaned out and made a sign to five specific princes-two governors (Novgorod and Ryazan), two chapters of autonomy (Buryatia and Karelia) and one head of the region (Perm).

All five chiefs pulled their heads into the shoulders and immediately damp the statements on their own. But our Saratov governor, who was predicted a year ago, survived.

In early March, Russian political scientists began to predict three more major dismissals in the regions - in Primorye, the Samara Region and St. Petersburg. And again, as you noticed, the Saratov governor Valery Radaev in the black list of candidates for a fast departure is not listed. Passed! The reason why our Valery Vasilievich again did not fall into the millstone of the Kremlin rotation of the personnel, with half a pink, do not understand and not to measure the intellectual arshin.

Corruption scandals? In the regions from where the Kremlin pulled the bosses, and indeed quite a few middle and welterial officials became subjects of criminal cases. But in our region, several Radayevsky close associates were under the sight of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Life standard? In the same Ryazan region, it is much higher than in Saratov. Debt load? It is much harder for us than, for example, in the Perm Territory or in the Novgorod region. The state of roads? In the ranking compiled by the Prochrevsky ONF, Saratov was generally at one of the last places.

Valery Vasilievich is a desperate dreamer, he lives in the world of megaprojects completely torn from reality, and he himself sincerely believes in their implementation

What else is there? Housing construction? Healthcare? Culture? Education? Everywhere we have nothing to boast of and even vice versa. At the end of last year, a new pedestrian zone was solemnly opened to the eighty -year anniversary of the region in the center of Saratov with a large gathering of the public and reporters. Already now, some three months later, the novelty requires serious repair: holes in the asphalt, tiles in trash. The symbol of local urbanism - huge decorative concrete balls placed on the sidewalks - periodically break off their places, threatening to cripple random passers -by. How many millions were launched into the wind for a penny window dressing? I will never recognize the exact numbers. However...

However, the head of the region still did not hide. Not even touched.

Why are there such mercy? Some political scientists are sure that there is no miracle here at all: they say that his good genius and patron-the ex-deputy head of the presidential administration, and now the speaker of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin, are being interceded by the regional leader. Other political scientists believe that Valeria Radaeva rescues his insignificance and invisibility from rotation: about our governor, they say, they simply forget in the turmoil.

And yet, if you think about it, you can find an explanation more proud. The focus is that our Valery Vasilievich is a desperate dreamer, a rare hybrid of two Gogol characters - Manilov and Noshodes. He lives in the world of megaproects, which are completely torn from reality, and he himself sincerely believes in their implementation. Then he promises to build something like Russian Disneyland on an abandoned wasteland, then he praises in advance the future super-duper-airport of unprecedented beauty, then tells everyone how the first Saratov icebreaker will raise from the bottom of the Volga, then he reports on the imminent project of the regional two-tier Museum of the History of All Rus', from Rarik to this day, then he persuades the director of the local radio factory. Tomorrow start the production of eighth iPhones.

Many of those who listen to the promise of the governor, deep down, realize that it will not go further than promises, but how nice it is to lull themselves with fantasies! The virtual Saratov region Valery Vasilyevich, by the way, is in perfect harmony with the fake Russia that the Kremlin ideologists invented and are trying to pass off the real one with the help of the TV. This Russia, rising from the knees, confidently moves forward and upward, showing the world an example of spirituality, family values, high sports achievements (without any impurity of Meldonium), offensive defense and other import substitution ...

In the ordinary world, Valery Radaev is the leader of the useless. But for that Russia, where mythology is more important than the economy, and the invented successes are one hundred times more significant than real, the current Saratov governor is not just a suitable official: he is an exemplary leader. Well, how, in fact, you can fire one of those who honestly keep their virtual vault segment on their shoulders? After all, if at least one of the Atlanteans inadvertently weakens and drops part of the cululis, it is difficult to even imagine what will open ...

However, no: imagining is just easy. And therefore it is better not to look nervous.

Roman Arbitman - Saratov writer

Opinions expressed under the heading "Law" may not reflect the point of view of the editorial office