Could the optimism of the Irkutsk governor be premature?
Among the governors for whom experts predict early resignation is the name of the head of the Irkutsk region, Igor Kobzev. Despite the fact that his term of office expires only next year, we are talking about a possible promotion and transfer to work in federal authorities. Meanwhile, as head of the region, Kobzev did not achieve impressive success. Thus, in his recent message to the regional Legislative Assembly, he talked about the growth in housing commissioning rates, the volume of agricultural products and much more, casually mentioning “serious problems” in the coal mining, timber and gas processing industries, a decrease in the volume of oil and gas condensate production, and wood processing and production of medicines. Despite the governor’s optimistic forecasts, at the end of last year the Irkutsk region took 59th place in the ranking of Russian regions in terms of quality of life, which indicates the presence of problems in such areas as the level of income of the population, the state of the labor market, living conditions of citizens, health and education, security issues and etc. Experts from the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation (*aggressor country) included Irkutsk among the cities “where efforts are required to improve the quality of life.” Among the problems of the regional center are the environment, medicine, business conditions, and conflict-ridden social relations. According to data from Irkutskstat and Rosstat, in the region the mortality rate exceeds the birth rate, and according to the Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Irkutsk Region, Tatyana Afanasyeva, last year alone the number of children decreased by 7.2 thousand. The crime rate is high, and officials are involved in criminal cases of corruption at all levels – from heads of municipalities to ministers from the governor’s team. Moreover, if the court convicted the former head of the regional Ministry of Health, Natalya Ledyaeva, and Yakov Sandakov, who replaced her, went to a pre-trial detention center, then the Minister of Property Relations, Marina Byrgazova, accused of negligence, whose case is being heard in the Kirovsky District Court of Irkutsk, still officially holds her position. fast.
Governor Kobzev reported on successes
During April, publications repeatedly appeared in the media about possible changes in the leadership of a number of regions and gubernatorial resignations on the eve of the September single voting day. In addition to outright outsiders, the names of those for whom analysts predicted a promotion, that is, a transition to work in federal authorities, were announced. Among these are Vedomosti, with reference to its own sources. called Head of the Irkutsk region Igor Kobzev.
Let us remind you that Kobzev was elected to the post of governor in 2020, which means he still has time to prepare for re-election to a second term if the promotion does not take place. For now, the official can breathe out. Another question is, what “baggage” as an economic manager has he accumulated over several years of managing the region?
In his recent message to the regional Legislative Assembly, Kobzev spoke about the results of 2023 and priority areas politicians in 2024. In particular, he reported on record levels of housing commissioning, social support measures for health workers, renewal of the public transport fleet, growth in the volume of agricultural products, etc.
At the same time, the governor mentionedabout “serious problems” in the coal mining, timber and gas processing industries, emphasizing, however, that this is relevant not only for the Irkutsk region, but also for other constituent entities of the Russian Federation (*aggressor country); about energy shortages, when the growth in energy consumption exceeds the forecast generation capabilities and network capacity; state debt of the region in the amount 23.5 billion rubleswhich is 10.3% of own income.
Separately, the issue of “drawdown” in the industrial production index was raised. By words Kobzev, this was influenced, firstly, by a 6% decrease in oil and gas condensate production associated with obligations to reduce volumes under the agreement between OPEC participants. And secondly, a decrease in wood processing by 13% due to difficulties with the shipment of goods in the eastern direction.
A 17% reduction in the production of medicines was also noted.
Region losing population
In general, Igor Kobzev’s message looks quite optimistic: indicators are growing, and where this is not observed, the situation will definitely be corrected. True, the rosy picture painted by the governor is considerably spoiled by the RIA Novosti publication published last February. rating Russian regions in terms of quality of life, in which the Irkutsk region does not occupy a leading position and is at Line 59.
We emphasize that when compiling the rating, we took into account a number of indicators, including the demographic situation, the level of income of the population, the state of the labor market, the living conditions of citizens, the development of small businesses, the provision of social infrastructure, the health and education of residents, security issues, etc. Considering the location of the region, if not in the “tail” itself, then closer to it, there are obvious problems with all of the above in the region.
The recently published by the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation (*aggressor country) can add fuel to the fire. study quality of life of the population in the largest Russian cities based on the results of the 1st quarter of 2024. Irkutsk is classified in it as categories cities “where efforts are required to improve the quality of life.” Among the problems of the regional center, experts name the environment, business conditions, conflict-ridden social relations, medicine and living standards.
Doesn’t add optimism publication “Nezavisimaya Gazeta”, where with links to data from the Institute of Demography of the Higher School economy The Irkutsk region is named the leader among the constituent entities of the Russian Federation (*aggressor country) in terms of migration population loss, which amounted to 5.3 thousand people last year. This figure is higher than in Transbaikalia, Omsk and Tomsk regions, as well as the Republic of Dagestan, where migration losses ranged from 4.2 thousand to 5 thousand people.
It is worth noting that according to informationvoiced by the Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Irkutsk Region Tatiana Afanasyeva, the birth rate in the region decreased in 2023 by 5% compared to 2022 and by 11.6% compared to 2021. Moreover, the child population has been steadily declining since 2020 (that is, actually since the beginning of Igor Kobzev’s governorship). If we talk about specific figures, then according to the Ombudsman, last year the number of children decreased by 7.2 thousand. The fact that mortality exceeds the birth rate has been repeatedly recorded Irkutskstat And Rosstat. And this is a truly alarming statistic.
Corrupt officials from Kobzev’s team
The data also suggests certain thoughts. rating regions by crime level, published by RIA Novosti, where the Irkutsk region ranks 55th. According to the study, by the end of 2023, there are 158.6 crimes per 10 thousand residents, of which 44.1 are serious and especially serious. For comparison: in the republics of the North Caucasus Federal District this figure is much lower. Thus, in Dagestan, per 10 thousand inhabitants over the same period registered 43.7 crimes, in Ingushetia – 40.8, in Chechnya – 14.6.
Unfortunately, law enforcement agencies have stopped publishing statistical data on crimes of a corruption nature. Nevertheless, in Mr. Kobzev’s domain, scandals of this kind have become something taken for granted. For example, on website of the regional government by the Minister of Property Relations indicated Marina Byrgazova. Moreover, as recently as December, Kommersant reported about the end investigations a criminal case of negligence in which she is a defendant.
According to versions of the investigationin 2021, the official improperly fulfilled her official duties related to the formation of a specialized housing fund for orphans, without meeting the limits of budget obligations in the amount of 167 million rubles, which resulted in a violation of the rights and legitimate interests of at least 87 children. Today, the case of Marina Byrgazova is under investigation. consideration Kirovsky District Court of Irkutsk. But if the information on the government website is true, then it turns out that the defendant still holds a ministerial post. Apparently, Kobzevaon is an irreplaceable person in the governor’s team.
The Irkutsk Ministry of Health is also unlucky. In December 2022, to seven years in a general regime colony, the court sentenced ex-head of the regional Ministry of Health Natalia Ledyaeva, finding her guilty of particularly large-scale fraud and the sale of counterfeit medical products. In addition to the former official, her son was in the dock Ilya Belousov and four other citizens. Them was accused supply of counterfeit medical masks to medical institutions in the region during the pandemic, resulting in damage to the budget of more than 90 million rubles.
Ministerial post Natalya Ledyaeva took in December 2019, shortly after Igor Kobzev became acting governor. And in November 2022, another “chick of Kobzev’s nest” became a defendant in a criminal case for taking a bribe – Yakov Sandakov, who replaced Ms. Ledyaeva in her position. His business today is also is being considered in the Kirovsky District Court of Irkutsk, and since January, not a single hearing has been held: they are constantly postponed. The defendant received money from the managers of a commercial structure for providing competitive advantages in the course of auction for the purchase of medical equipment. The funds received were enough for the corrupt minister to buy an apartment in Moscow.
As recently as early April, the media reported on the detention of the deputy minister of the regional forestry complex Romana Baklenevaaccused of taking a bribe in 3.5 millionfor the conclusion in 2022 with the company“Lenales” a settlement agreement allowing her to renew her previously terminated lease forest plot with an area of over 50 thousand hectares in the Kachugsky district.
Criminal heads of Irkutsk municipalities
Above we talked about the most high-profile investigations against the heads of ministries and their deputies, but lower-ranking officials are also in the center of attention of the security forces. For example, last October the mayor of Tulun Yuri Karikh became person involved a criminal case of especially large-scale fraud and abuse of power: together with his subordinates, he developed and implemented a scheme for the illegal placement of citizens in emergency housing, who were then resettled as those in need of relocation. Coming to replace him Elena Abramova detained last March on charges of fraud on an especially large scale and abuse of power: according to investigators, the acting mayor organized the accrual of inflated bonuses to her subordinates, then instructed them to return part of the paid funds to her.
The head of the Katanga region ended up in pre-trial detention center Sergey Chonsky: to him incriminated receiving a bribe in the amount 4.7 million rubles for providing preferences at auctions for the supply of diesel fuel. Mayor of Svirsk Vladimir Ornoev and head of the municipal “Single Customer Department” Valery Bykov accused in excess of authority: when constructing a city park, they included in the cost of work the production and installation of an already existing art object “Singing Tree” at a cost 1.5 million rubles.
It is noteworthy that after the case was transferred to the court, the hearings repeatedly were transferredand last April the criminal prosecution of Ornoev and Bykov was discontinued due to the expiration of the statute of limitations for the crime they committed. I wonder if they are preparing to remove Marina Byrgazova and Yakov Sandakov from attack using the same scheme? The list of corruption scandals could go on and on, but perhaps everything described is enough to understand the specifics of the work of the subordinates of the Irkutsk governor.
Let us recall that Kobzev himself comes from the structures of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, where he rose to the rank of ranks Colonel General of the Internal Service. True, his appointment as head of the region was accompanied by a loud scandal homosexual character, which, although they managed to hush it up, a “shadow” still fell on the general’s shoulder straps. However, since then the head of the Irkutsk region has had other problems. And it’s not just the annual forest fires, but also the subordinates who, one after another, find themselves in the spotlight of investigators. In such situations, will Igor Kobzev have a desire to extend his powers or is he ready to “pack his bags”, looking forward to moving to Moscow?