The head of the Regional Problems Institute, Dmitry Zhuravlev, told VK about prospects of the North Caucasus development after Vladimir Putin return to presidency.
- How would the situation in the North Caucasus develop in the context of the new president coming?
- I think the situation will improve.
First of all, the new situation differs from the previous one by a significant aspect – the main person in the country becomes the official first person. It always simplifies management. Often in the North Caucasus the management impulse stops somewhere on the way. The fact that President and Putin are one and the same figure simplifies mechanisms of regional management.
Secondly, a significant factor is the administrative reform, i.e. shift to elections of regional heads. It is very important for the North Caucasus. Elections will change some things for the better there. People, who think that they are not listened to, will have an opportunity to state their position.
The third aspect is the economic reform. The economic reform of the subsidized North Caucasus will change the situation in the region dramatically. It is difficult to imagine that the region where oil exists could be subsidized. It is unlikely. Where subsidies come – is a long story. The reform is supposed to simplify the scheme. A lot will come to the light.
And the fourth question is the youth policy. Of course, it isn’t connected with coming of the new old president, they have always existed not only in the Caucasus, but also in other Russian regions. But I think there will be opportunities to solve the problem intensively.
- How, for example?
- At last some real boosts will be established. The leader of United Russia will be Medvedev, not Putin. Putin is above parties. In this context, the problem of narrowing the lift down to the party lift will be solved. It doesn’t mean everything will be great immediately, but some bad aspect will disappear. Forming various camps and so one is at most a make-shift. At the moment a youth camp is taking place in the North Caucasus. It is a make-shift. Establishment of a system of human resources not through party, but state structures is interesting. Unfortunately, we have stopped at the presidential resources. It is a narrow level, because President doesn’t need thousands of employees. At the same time, the system could be developed much wider.
