Political life is changeable. Youâve just been in power, "on horseback", and now, having not had time to look back, you are leaving your familiar place and, it would seem, your own office. In September of this year, many regions of the country lost their governors - someone left himself, someone âleftâ from above. The Governor of Krasnoyarsk Viktor Tolokonsky also resigned. Now the region is waiting for new elections, and on their eve we can recall how (or rather, from whom) it all began.
Who is the governor?
To begin with, it is worth determining who this is - the governor. So, the governor is the person who manages a separate administrative unit - the region, the region and so on. Before the revolution, this was the head of the province (hence the name of the post) - this is what the region was called before.
Today, the governor is elected by residents for five years. Anyone who is at least thirty years old can apply for this position. However, one cannot become a governor more than two times in a row, and besides, one must remember that residents of the region have the right to recall their chosen one. In this case (if the seat is vacated ahead of schedule), the interim governor is appointed by the president of the country.
Krasnoyarsk region
The Krasnoyarsk Territory, a region in the very center of Russia, and at the same time in the heart of Siberia, has a rich history. Previously, what is now the largest region in our country was called the Yenisei province. It existed until 1925, and then all the provinces were abolished, they were united into a single region, from which later separate ones, in particular, the Krasnoyarsk Territory, were formed. He began his official existence in December 1934. Ten years ago, the region was reorganized - the Taimyr and Evenki Autonomous Districts joined it , but the general name of the region remained the same.
For the entire long and even centuries-old, if we consider the Yenisei province, the history of the chiefs in the region was a dime a dozen. The very first governor of Krasnoyarsk is considered to be Alexander Petrovich Stepanov - a man who has really done a lot for this Siberian city.
Alexander Stepanov
Alexander Petrovich came from a noble family. He got into the chair of the head of the then province at the age of 42 years (this happened in 1823). He studied in Moscow, served in the army, was in the headquarters of Suvorov himself, participated in the war of 1812, after which he retired, but, nevertheless, accepted the appointment to the governorship of a distant region.
Due to the fact that Alexander Petrovich was an active and energetic man, life changed dramatically with his arrival in Krasnoyarsk. He directed all his activity immediately to the creation of hospitals and charity houses in the city. Secured Krasnoyarsk donated funds, institutions opened one after another. Thanks to Stepanov, the first pharmacy appeared in the city on the Yenisei. By the way, its building has been preserved to this day, moreover, the pharmacy is located there to this day.
The expansion of the police force, the repair of roads and houses, the appearance of a city garden, printing house, library - all this and many other Krasnoyarsk of that time owed to Alexander Petrovich. Unfortunately, he spent only eight years at his post, after which he left for another area. Subsequently, the townspeople more than once kindly recalled the first governor of Krasnoyarsk and regretted that there was no second. Life in Krasnoyarsk with his departure abruptly declined.
Governors of Krasnoyarsk in the Soviet Union
After Stepanov, as the head of the region, many different people were replaced. Some of them were better, some worse. But we will dwell in more detail on those governors of Krasnoyarsk that "ruled the ball" already in Soviet times.
For all the years that the Krasnoyarsk Territory existed under the Soviets (which is 57 years old), 12 people managed to visit the position of governor. The very first of them was Pavel Dmitrievich Akulinushkin: he worked for two years, from June 35th to July 37th. Little is known about him, only that he did not voluntarily leave his post, but because, like many in that terrible year, he became a victim of repression.
After Akulinushkin, the post was occupied by Sergei Sobolev, Pavel Kulakov, Ivan Golubev and others. A little more detail is worth stopping at the ninth governor of the region - Vladimir Ivanovich Dolgikh.
Vladimir Dolgikh
Vladimir Ivanovich was born in the village of Ilan. In the seat of the governor of the region sat in 1969 for three years. Prior to that, he served in the army, graduated from the Mining and Metallurgical Institute, worked as an engineer, including the director of the Norilsk Mining and Metallurgical Combine.
Leading the Krasnoyarsk Territory, he achieved a lot for him. So, in particular, it was thanks to Vladimir Ivanovich that the economy of the region began to develop, coal industry, hydropower, and metallurgy were mastered. It was during the Dolgikhs in the Krasnoyarsk Territory that such powerful facilities appeared as a hydroelectric power station and two plants still operating today - aluminum and metallurgical. The regionâs energy and industry has grown so much that it has become lacking not only for its own needs, but also to help other areas. All this happened thanks to the competent leadership of Vladimir Ivanovich. By the way, the former head of the region is still alive today.
Pavel Fedirko
After the Long âcontrol wheelâ took Pavel Stefanovich Fedirko. He remained as governor for 15 years, right up to 87, and during this impressive period he managed to do quite a lot.
Pavel Stefanovich was born in the Krasnodar Territory in 1932, and is a railwayman by profession. Prior to his appointment as head of the Krasnoyarsk region, he managed to work as an engineer and director of a Norilsk plant, and was also secretary of the Igarsky city committee.
When Fedirko, Krasnoyarsk received a new airport (the old one was in the city, there was always a risk of human casualties, as the take-off was carried out over the city), a new bridge across the Yenisei-Oktyabrsky, new enterprises aimed at strengthening the regionâs economy, as well as cultural institutions. For example, the Big Concert Hall, which to this day delights Krasnoyarsk residents. Pavel Stefanovich generally cared about the culture of the region: it was with his active support that the Siberian dance ensemble was created, known throughout the country, the Krasnoyarsk Symphony Orchestra, the choreographic school and the Institute of Arts were opened.
Governors of Krasnoyarsk after the collapse of the Union
While the country of the Soviets was still living, two more people managed to stay as governor in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. And the first leader of the region in the post-Soviet era was Arkady Filimonovich Veprev. An economist by education, an agronomist, he stayed in this post a little over a year. His actions were repeatedly criticized, there were proposals for his removal, as a result of which, in the end, he retired. After him (and to the present), six people were governors of Krasnoyarsk. About each of them it is worth saying a little more.
Valery Zubov
Valery Mikhailovich was born in the Tambov region in 1953. He worked as a locksmith, assistant driller. At first I wanted to get education at the Faculty of Geology (his parents were geologists), but then transferred to the Institute of National Economy in Moscow, defended his dissertation and went to work in Krasnoyarsk. In the city on the Yenisei, Zubov first worked as an ordinary teacher, later became dean of the Faculty of Economics (and even a doctor of economic sciences).
He plunged into political life since the beginning of the 90s. After the resignation of Veprev in January 1993, he was recommended by him as his successor, and in April of that year he took the chair of the governor of the region. He spent five years at the post. Those years were very difficult for the country's economy - there were not enough jobs, not enough money, but in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, unlike other territories, there were no delays in payments to pensioners.
Everyone who remembers Valery Mikhailovichâs work as governor notes his integrity, honesty and fairness, as well as the fact that more than a million people voted for him at that time as governor in the Krasnoyarsk Territory - a phenomenal figure. Due to disagreements with Moscow (according to some), Zubov could not stay for a second term in the chair of the leader of the region. He later worked in Moscow, and died last year due to illness.
Alexander Lebed
The next four years in the Krasnoyarsk Territory passed under the auspices of the reign of Alexander Ivanovich Lebed. He was born in Novocherkassk in the 50th year, worked as a loader, grinder. He graduated from the airborne school, military academy named after M.V. Frunze. He had the rank of lieutenant general, participated in real military operations. Having gone to the reserve in the mid-nineties, the politician began to climb the career ladder.
In 1998, he won the election of governor in Krasnoyarsk, beating the then head of the region, Valery Zubov. The elections were scandalous, with many violations. Some believe that Lebedâs victory was dishonest, and everything was aimed solely at the âdestructionâ of Zubov. One way or another, since May 98, Alexander Ivanovich took the governor's chair.
The most important thing that happened during the reign of Lebed is the opening of the Krasnoyarsk Cadet Corps, which now bears the name of its creator. Many criticized the activities of Alexander Ivanovich, something did not work out for him, but who knows how everything would have worked out if it had not been for the tragic death - in April 2002, the governor, along with several administration staff and journalists, crashed in a plane crash.
Alexander Khloponin
From October of the same year for eight years, the new governor of Krasnoyarsk was Alexander Gennadievich Khloponin, who had previously worked as governor, only in Taimyr. He served in the army, graduated from the Faculty of International Economics, worked at Vnesheconombank, was the General Director of MMC Norilsk Nickel. He stayed the leader of the Taimyr okrug - nothing more than a year, after which he left for Krasnoyarsk.
It was under Alexander Gennadievich that the unification of the Krasnoyarsk Territory with Taimyr and Evenkia occurred. Under him, the development of the Lower Angara region began, and regional social programs aimed at improving life in the region began to be developed. The reconstruction of the airport, agreements with various energy companies, the development of the Vankor oil and gas field, the opening of the Siberian Federal University and much more - all this happened during the years when the region was headed by Alexander Gennadievich.
By the way, it was Khloponin who initiated the holding of the so-called governor's ball in Krasnoyarsk - an event for students who distinguished themselves in their studies or in any other field. Khloponinâs work as governor of the Krasnoyarsk region was terminated due to his appointment to another, more honorable place.
Lev Kuznetsov
From February 2010 and over the next four years, the regionâs governor was Lev Vladimirovich Kuznetsov - he was put in this place âfrom aboveâ, residents did not choose him. Like many others, he is an economist by profession. He worked at banks, then at Norilsk Nickel, like his predecessor. Starting to make a political career, he worked in the Khloponin team - both in Taimyr and in Krasnoyarsk: when Alexander Gennadyevich was governor, Lev Vladimirovich was his first deputy.
As the leader of the region, Kuznetsov paid close attention to improving education and healthcare systems, and also sought to develop the infrastructure of Krasnoyarsk and other cities of the region. In May 2014, he left Krasnoyarsk as he was assigned to another region.
Victor Tolokonsky
Victor Alexandrovich Tolokonsky arrived in Krasnoyarsk from a neighboring region - the Novosibirsk region. He was appointed interim governor by the president of the country, and before that he held the high post of plenipotentiary of the country's leader in Siberia. He spent four months in Krasnoyarsk as "acting", and in September he was elected by residents as the head of the region.
Viktor Alexandrovich was born in Novosibirsk in 1953. An economist, a professor of political economy, the mayor of Novosibirsk, and later the governor of the region â these are Tolokonskyâs steps in the political arena. He began his work in the Krasnoyarsk region with a reduction in the bureaucracy - he fired four people from among his assistants. Under Viktor Alexandrovich, a new, fourth bridge across the Yenisei was opened in Krasnoyarsk.
The governor of Tolokonsky in the Krasnoyarsk Territory was met with great expectation, but later many dissatisfied appeared. So, a big scandal and indignation of residents caused the governor's proposal to reduce bus routes to improve the road situation. Another scandal erupted this summer, when officials were doubled their salaries. Due to the gigantic wave of indignation, this decree was eventually repealed.
In September this year, a wave of governor resignations swept across the country. In several regions, leaders have changed, usually age-related. Because of this, some have suggested that Moscow wants to ârejuvenateâ the heads of territories. The resignation of the governor also affected Krasnoyarsk - Victor Tolokonsky officially resigned.
Alexander Uss
Alexander Viktorovich Uss has long been known to Krasnoyarsk residents. A native of this region, a lawyer, a doctor of law, a professor, he began his political career in the 90s. Repeatedly tried to take a dominant position in the region, but it did not grow together. For the past 20 years he has been the speaker of the Legislative Assembly. And only after the departure of the former governor of Krasnoyarsk in September this year, did Uss receive an offer to become the interim leader of the region.
The election of governor in the region will be held next fall. All this time, Aleksandr Viktorovich, who, of course, will run for the post of governor of Krasnoyarsk, will act as leader. Whether Uss will be at the helm, or someone else - wait and see.