The heads of the Arkhangelsk region and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug signed a memorandum on the unification of the regions

Acting heads of the Arkhangelsk region and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (NAO) Alexander Tsybulsky and Yuri Bezdudny signed a memorandum of intent to create a new subject of the Russian Federation by merging the regions, TASS reports.

This was reported in the press service and information department of the administration of the governor and the government of the Arkhangelsk region. The memorandum was signed in Naryan-Mar.

It is possible to merge two regions into one if more than half of the residents support such a decision in a referendum. According to an RBC source, the referendum could take place as early as this year.

On April 2, the governor of the Arkhangelsk region, Igor Orlov, resigned, and the governor of the Nenets district, Alexander Tsybulsky, was appointed in his place. Now the Nenets Autonomous Okrug is temporarily headed by his deputy, Yuri Bezdudny, RIA Novosti reports .

The last time the regions were united was in 2008: then the Chita region and the Aginsky Buryat Autonomous Okrug formed the Trans-Baikal Territory.