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Resignation Accepted
// Roman Abramovich resigned as the head of Chukotka
Yesterday Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree “On the resignation of Governor of the Chukotka Autonomous District Roman Abramovich” in connection with his statement on the early end of his term. With the same decree, the President appointed Roman Kopin Acting Governor of the Chukotka Autonomous District. Those in the circle of Mr Abramovich say that the head of the district had prepared Mr Kopin for the role of his successor and his candidacy had been approved of by the Kremlin.
Yesterday President Dmitry Medvedev accepted the resignation of Chukotka Governor Roman Abramovich. Mr Abramovich, who is reputed one of the richest Russian businessmen (this year Forbes assessed his fortune at $23.5 bln and put him in the second place after Oleg Deripaska with his $28 bln), leaves the post of the head of the region before the end of his term. He became Governor in December, 2000, with a record number of voter casting their ballots for him (90%); his second term would expire in 2010.
Nevertheless, the resignation came as no surprise. As far back as spring, 2005 the Governor of Chukotka stated in an interview to the western mass media that he was unwilling to run for a second term, and in September, 2005 Presidential Envoy Plenipotentiary in the Far Eastern Federal District Konstantin Pulikovsky complained that Mr Abramovich had refused to be included on the list of the candidates for Governor. For all that, in October Vladimir Putin introduced his candidacy to the legislative assembly of Chukotka, where it was unanimously adopted. Interestingly, as he received congratulations on another 5-year term from Mr Pulikovsky, Mr Abramovich publicly corrected the Envoy Plenipotentiary reminding him that “they had agreed on 4 years.”
However, the Governor of Chukotka wouldn’t stay even for four years. On December 20, 2006 the owner of the Chelsea FC and co-owner of the Evraz Group said after his meeting with the President that he had put a question about his early resignation. It took them a month to settle the issue – on February 9, 2007 the Presidential press-service reported that Roman Abramovich would continue running Chukotka. According to those in the circle of the businessmen, one of the reasons for that decision was Mr Abramovich’s desire to accomplish the program on making Chukotka a subsidy-free region (the program envisages the development of oil production in Chukotka, whose revenue is due to amount to 57 bln roubles).
Nonetheless, yesterday those in the circle of the businessman explained it to Kommersant that Mr Abramovich had come to an agreement with Vladimir Putin that he’d remain Governor of Chukotka till Mr Putin’s presidential term expired. Now that the transition of power has been carried out, he has the right to leave his post. According to the source of Kommersant, Roman Abramovich signed his resignation on June 19. After it he met with Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of the Presidential Administration Sergey Naryshkin and a new Envoy Plenipotentiary in the Far Eastern Federal District Oleg Safonov. None of them minded the resignation, and they only wanted to know who was going to be Mr Abramovich’s successor. In the course of a number of meetings the candidacy of Chukotka Deputy Governor Roman Kopin was negotiated.
This version was confirmed to Kommersant in the Kremlin, too. An official with the Administration said that Dmitry Medvedev decided on accepting Mr Abramovich’s resignation ten days ago as he met with the head of Chukotka, who told the President he was going to resign. “Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was aware of Mr Abramovich’s desire to leave the region and take up another job. So, you can’t see any intrigue and surprise concerning the matter,” the source of Kommersant stressed, “As Roman Arkadievich asked the then President Vladimir Putin to sign his resignation, he was told to accomplish a range of goals, including the organization of the presidential election. He met all the demands, so, there’s nothing that can prevent him from leaving.” The source of Kommersant emphasized that Mr Abramovich will keep on investing money in several economic projects in Chukotka, and his presence in the region “will have a different character.”
Spokespersons for the Millhouse Capital – a company managing the assets of Roman Abramovich – told the same thing to news agencies yesterday. It need be said, though, that those in the circle of the businessman told Kommersant that Mr Abramovich will invest money only in those projects he considers lucrative. “For example, Abramovich wants to build a swimming-pool in Anadyr, and he’ll do it. He decided to contribute to the development of football in Chukotka – three pitches have been constructed. But he won’t send planes filled with money for paying pensions and donations as he used to do.”
The adherents of Roman Abramovich point to the fact that the Governor had prepared Roman Kopin to become his successor. “First he headed the Chaunsky district of Chukotka, then he was appointed head of the crucial Bilibinsky district, where an atomic station is located, and in April he took the post of the Deputy Governor in charge of the most important branches –the fuel and energy complex and industry,” MP Sergey Kapkov, Chief of the National Football Academy financed by Roman Abramovich, told Kommersant. According to the information of Kommersant, Mr Kapkov, who received his post being on the list of the United Russia party, was also regarded “a spare candidate” for the position of the Chukotka Governor.
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Roman Abramovich’s activity apart from being the Governor of Chukotka
2001 Roman Abramovich was first mentioned in the international Forbes rating of multi-millionaires, ranking 363 with his $1.4 bln. By 2008 he managed to jump to the 15th position, with his fortunes boosting to $23.5 bln.
Starting from 2002 Mr Abramovich succeeded in selling a range of Russian assets. The key deals are the following: selling 72.6% of the Sibneft oil company to Gazprom for the unprecedented $13 bln, and 50% of the Russian Aluminium to Oleg Deripaska for $3.5. Since 2006 the businessman has invested money in metallurgy, buying 41% of the Evraz Group for $3.2 bln (2006) and 40% of the Highland Gold Mining for $400 mln.
In 2003 the Governor of Chukotka bought the Chelsea FC for $180 mln. Under him, the team twice became the champion of England (2005, 2006), and played in the final of the League of Champions (2008). To support Russia’s sport, Mr Abramovich set up the National Football Academy fund, which pays the salary to Guus Hiddink - the coach of the Russian national team ($4 mln annually) and builds a base for the team in the town of Zvenigorod, Moscow region.
Mr Abramovich is famous for buying luxurious property. In 2004 he paid $27 for villa Chateau de la Croe in the French Riviera. he also has a few mansions in England, three yachts and two Boeings.
2007 marked a divorce of the businessman with his wife Irina. Due to his new partner Darya Zhukova the governor got the fame of a generous collector. In May, 2008 he bought paintings of Francis Bacon ($86.3) and Lucian Freud ($33.6) for her.
Roman Abramovich’s rule. Bottom line
The population of Chukotka fell by 12.5% - from 57.500 people (2001) to 50.300 (2007). It happened despite the natural growth of population: in 2001 719 people were born in the district, and 701 died, whereas in 2007 801 and 595 correspondingly. The reason for the decrease in the number of citizens is the opportunity for pensioners to leave Chukotka for Central Russia, which is paid by the governor. The number of those unemployed dropped by two times – from 2400 to 1200 people.
The incomes of the population boosted by four times. In 2001 an average salary was 8.216 roubles, and the pension – 1.540 roubles. In April 2008 the salary amounted to 36.355 roubles (in these terms, Chukotka ranked third in Russia), and the pension – to 7.577 roubles. The GRP was 6.9 bln roubles in 2001. In 2008, it’s estimated to reach 23.3 bln roubles. In these terms, Chukotka ranks 10th on the list of the Russian regions. The volume of industrial production surged from 2.3 bln roubles (2000) to 4.03 bln roubles (2007). Gold mining went down – from 5.5 tons to 4.4 tons per year. In 2000 0.800 square meters of housing estate was built, in 2007 – 6.600. In 2001 Roman Abramovich imposed a five-year moratorium on deer slaughter, and by 2007 the livestock soared by 64% - from 99.000 to 162.000.
The profit of the budget equated to 1.65 bln roubles in 2000, and 12.02 bln roubles in 2008. The share of subsidies of the federal center plunged from 75% to 47.2%.
The crime rate decreased by 35% - from 1581 offences in 2000 to 1033 in 2007.
A new lord of Chukotka set off for the region
Today Archbishop of Khabarovsk and the Amur oblast Mark is to arrive in Chukotka. The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church ordered that he head the Anadyr eparchy, whose Archbishop Diomid was dismissed. In February, 2007 Archbishop Diomid appealed to the entire Russian Church (which can be done by the Patriarch only) so that they confessed that they betrayed the true religion, and he accused the Russian Orthodox Church of following the line of the secular power. In June, 2007 the Bishop of Chukotka called on the Patriarch to abstain from acknowledging democracy a political system, and consider monarchy the right form of government. He also wanted to curse those supporting abortions and euthanasia, as well as alcoholics and drug addicts. The Church authorities considered the statements of Diomid and rendered them aiming to break up the Church. So, Diomid was dismissed. Diomid was given a chance to repent by July 18. But he refused to do it. Rather, he went on a trip throughout Chukotka and stressed that he’ll stay there and fulfil the responsibilities he’s given.
Roman Yarmoshevich, Khabarovsk
Alla Barakhova
All the Article in Russian as of July 04, 2008
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