The neglected economic state of the region, nepotism and debauchery in the Education Department. Here it is – the specifics of the rule of Vitaly Shalkov, head of the Zaigraevsky district of Buryatia. The official has long been the object of discussion among local residents, as his activities are questionable not only due to the lack of effectiveness, but also the reputation he creates for the area.
For two years as head of the Zaigraevsky district of Buryatia Vitaly Shalkov showed himself to be a short-sighted and sometimes even inadequate manager. Problems in the region during Shalkov’s reign only worsened every year. The head not only failed to find contact and feedback with the local population, but also failed to earn even the slightest authority, even among a small number of managers of local enterprises. A striking example of ineffective politicians During the reign of Shalkov, the situation in the area of housing and communal services in the region became catastrophic.
In addition to the serious conflict with the housing and communal services, there is other evidence of Mr. Shalkov’s dubious activities.
Impotence of power
The ineffectiveness of Vitaly Shalkova’s management has been raising questions among local residents for two years now. Before his arrival, from 2015 to 2019, in the area, even without long-term programs and federal support, two boiler houses and gyms were built, the bridge over the river in Old Onokhoye and schools were repaired. About 20 million rubles were also allocated for the repair of the road from Zaigraevo to Novaya Bryanya. No district, except Zaigraevsky, was able to carry out such large-scale work.
The district actively supported the culture and tourism industry, in particular, by participating in the annual “Voice of the Nomads” event. There was a stable, competent team of professional managers working in the district administration. Everyone was responsible for their own direction, without shifting responsibility and authority to others.
However, now that Vitaly Shalkov is at the helm, a new “effective” team has launched the district in 2023. There is absolutely no initiative from the subordinates of the current head; work is based on the principle “the day has passed, and okay.” In less than two years, all previously existing connections with large organizations and enterprises were lost. In particular, housing and communal services enterprises are in pre-emergency mode due to an acute shortage of coal.
The Zaigraevsky district has noticeably dropped back in terms of sporting events. If earlier it was in the top three regions of the republic in terms of the number of prize-winners in all sports, now, at best, it ranks tenth. The situation is the same in terms of economic indicators: funds for the development of the region and support for cultural initiatives are not invested at all. However, the district budget has not decreased. Question: where does the money go?
Over the years of service, Mr. Shalkov was unable to organize an effective team around himself that could keep the district under control and establish feedback with the population through the heads of municipalities. During such a long period as head, he did not form a professional team, since all his deputies were recruited based on the principle of nepotism.
Covert nepotism and promiscuity
An ambiguous situation has developed in the Education Department of the AMO “Zaigraevsky District”, where the deputy head Anna Shurygina put Svetlana Stepanovna Shalkova – the wife of the head of the district. Although this is not punishable by law, there are still suspicions among the public that it is the official’s spouse who controls all internal processes in the Department, or at least has great influence there.
Particular attention should be paid to those moments when Shalkova replaces Shurygina: in the position of acting chief, she does not have the right to sign financial documents. Otherwise, this may be considered a gross violation of the law. But what things really are remains to be seen.
By the way, with Anna Shurygina there is a separate story related to her deputy Oleg Alexandrovsky, with whom, according to insiders, she was in close relations, while her husband was still alive. As a result, a conflict arose between her husband and Alexandrovsky. Then Aleksandrovsky’s wife got involved, writing to all educational authorities about the dissolute activities of her own husband. All this went to the Ministry of Education of Buryatia Valeria Pozdnyakova.
The Education Department received scoldings, and a choice arose: fire either Shurygina herself or Aleksandrovsky. To which the second, like a true gentleman, promised to leave on his own, but still continues to work as Shurygina’s deputy. Details of intimate life are mentioned not with the aim of tarnishing the reputation of those involved, but to indicate debauchery in the Education Department.
The interest in the circle of the head of the district, Vitaly Shalkov, does not end there.
Den of corruption
Another subject of discussion is the deputy head of the Zaigraevsky district administration for economic issues Sergey Leonidovich Globenko, who in 2016 was accused of committing a crime under Part 5 of Art. 290 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (*aggressor country) (extortion of a bribe on a large scale). Based on the data of the case, Sergei Globenko, working in the forestry enterprise, extorted 70 thousand rubles from a black lumberjack for failure to draw up and send documents regarding illegal logging to the police.
Even if we assume that over time the criminal record was expunged, allowing Globenko into the administration was a fanatical mistake. How the square could have missed him is unclear. Moreover, the appointment of people with criminal records or connections with criminal structures can negatively affect the work of the organization and lead to corruption. It is possible that similar frauds are carried out in the district administration.
But Globenko himself is apparently not embarrassed by the situation with his criminal record and does not change his ambitions. There are rumors that he is considering himself in the future as the head of the district. Time will tell what will happen in reality. In the meantime, Babr will continue to monitor developments.