Political scientist Alexander Zhukovsky on what to expect from Novgorod Governor Andrei Nikitin. And about. Governor of the Novgorod Region Andrey Nikitin - “a man from a young metropolitan party Nikitin acting governor of the Novgorod region
On February 13, by decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the 37-year-old head of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, Andrei Nikitin, was appointed interim governor of the Novgorod region. What should Novgorodians expect from the next "Varangian"? I talked about this with the well-known Novgorod political scientist and sociologist Alexander Zhukovsky.
Acting Governor of the Novgorod Region Andrey Nikitin. Photo: www.novreg.ru
Alexander Ivanovich, you were present at the first briefing of the new acting governor - what impression did he make on you? How was the farewell to the former governor Sergei Mitin?
I have something to compare with - I was a participant in a similar procedure in 2007, and then such a meeting took place in a narrow format (30-40 people). Sergei Mitin delivered a confident speech and made a good impression. There were many new terms for the Novgorod region that were not used in the previous political cycle of 1994-2007. Questions were also asked. The current event took place in a completely different format: a large hall, attendance only on the lists (with an incomprehensible priority), a very short introduction by Plenipotentiary Tsukanov with a reading of the already known presidential Decree and the introduction of the interim. Andrey Nikitin made a laconic and not very bright statement about how he represents what is due and necessary in the next work. But Mitin, in his parting words, tried to be confident and calm. It seemed to me that the ensuing applause from the audience was an acknowledgment that he had succeeded.
- Nikolai Tsukanov, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the North-Western Federal District, did not rule out that the retired Sergei Mitin "will be useful not only in the region, but also at the federal level." Do you know anything about the continuation of Mitin's political career? Some sources predicted him the post of senator in the Federation Council, others - a position in the Ministry of Agriculture(Minister or Deputy Minister), although Ivan Preobrazhensky suggested that such information stuffing could come from the team of Mitin himself.
There was no energy and confidence in the words of the plenipotentiary. Words and phrases sounded purely rhetorical and were immediately forgotten. The mandates from the Novgorod region to the Federation Council were the subject of consideration even before the September elections to the State Duma. Formally, the regional Duma had to make a choice on the part of the deputies, and the vacated mandate of Dmitry Krivitsky (now Krivitsky and a criminal case has been opened against him - N.P.) the governor distributed privately, in accordance with his personal sympathies, which he did not share willingly. As for some federal opportunities, today the infrastructure government controlled very segmented and closed. Internal contradictions in individual sectors are accompanied by a large, even excessive number of so-called "information probes" that study the external conjuncture of the problem. In particular, this “idea” with Sergey Mitin was thrown in by such a probe from the Rostov agricultural lobby. The "shift change", which began in the federal horizons, is clearly focused on other professional, business and reputational qualities of the participants, and it will be impossible for the former governor from 2006-2007 to prove himself there. So for the former governor, the senatorial mandate, which he can “grab” on inertia from the Novgorod region, is the limit of his possibilities.
- As you know, when asked by journalists about personnel changes, Nikitin replied: "I will not take drastic steps, because this is never right." Does this mean that Mitin's former team will almost entirely remain in their positions, at least until the September elections? What personnel changes should we expect in the near future?
I specifically observe (monitor) how the "switching on", the introduction of new "acting" in other regions of Russia. Everywhere they begin with the replacement of personnel and the formation of their teams. It is noticeable that the candidates demonstrate to the environment that they have come in earnest and for a long time. This phenomenon is understandable - it has long been known that "the retinue makes the king", and the environment that did not save its former "idol" is discarded. AT this case this process cannot be avoided in the Novgorod region in 2017. I also had to observe a similar regional “shift change” in 2007, as an uninvolved observer (I was neither in the retinue nor in the team of Mikhail Prusak then). It was noticeable that the least guilty were defiantly cleared out, and the basic elements of the system suffered to a lesser extent.
But perhaps the most interesting thing for the escort team that came from Moscow and candidates for government positions will be the staffing table with the salaries of managers. It seems to me that Moscow does not even understand the level of decline in the regional "development" of the Novgorod region, and, possibly, other similar regions. Therefore, we can say that Andrei Nikitin was hardly warned about the future salary. And his comrades, even in a sincere desire to help their colleague, can come into conflict with reality. I note that, for example, the salary of the director of the ASI was estimated at about 300 thousand rubles a month. There is a risk that the interim will be left alone with our "deep" local problems, reduced salaries and political challenges.
Will the information policy of the regional government and its PR component change under the new head of the region? Let's say, I was very surprised to see a few days ago on the air of Novgorod television the leaders of the Novgorod "Yabloko" Konstantin Khivrich and Anna Cherepanov, who, like other independent and opposition figures, had long been in the so-called. stop lists of regional media receiving funding from the regional budget. It is unlikely that Nikitin will start a personal blog in LiveJournal, which has been losing popularity as a social media in recent years. Can we expect more openness from the new head of the region than it was under the previous governor?
The previous information policy of the government of the Novgorod region was aimed at protecting, first of all, the governor, his personal qualities, living space, maintaining his rating, demonstrating his managerial effectiveness and, together with the regional management infrastructure, became a kind of political "body armor", ensuring his personal invulnerability . From whom? Yes, from everyone: the population, business, parties, the public, legislation, the President of the Russian Federation. In practice, this was expressed in the fact that positive movements and social results in the territory were strongly associated with the personality of the governor, while negative manifestations were hushed up, accumulated in the moods, impressions of citizens, “redirected” towards enemies and ill-wishers multiplying around the head of the region.
As a result, public opinion, not finding an answer to its legitimate requests, with each new day less and less trusted the governor and his team. The objective ratings of the authorities and the governor in the region were steadily falling. The governor's "body armor" to some extent still demonstrated a kind of protection of his position from external threats in the form of possible claims from the federal center (someone in the center might even like the authoritarian regime he had built in the region), but in fact it did not protect him in any way. Mitin from newly emerging external problems (changes taking place in the federal center, the presidential administration) and from the growing numerous internal problems, unfavorable trends in the region itself. Changing the information agenda at the moment is the most pressing topic. Already yesterday, I noticed that a positive program about Senator Sergei Fabrichny was released on regional TV, and other “closed” faces and topics will appear. As for Andrei Nikitin, as far as I understand, there are no “contraindications” for his openness at this stage, and if we help him, he may even become the most open governor of Russia.
- In a recent interview, political scientist Alexander Kynev, speaking about the latest appointments of heads of regions, noted that “first of all, new governors, as a rule, do not have any experience in public politics. All their work took place within some administrations, departments, ministries. These young managers worked exclusively within the closed subdivisions of the power pyramid. They hardly know how to engage in public politics when your every word, every gesture and deed is in plain sight. They will have to learn how to evaluate their public consequences when making certain speeches, so as not to look stupid and not give food for anecdotes. In your opinion, how relevant is this warning for Nikitin and the Novgorod region?
At the beginning, I already noted that the opening speech of the interim was not expressive. And, indeed, it is very likely that the Presidential Administration is throwing its candidates into the "water" (unknown) without the appropriate skill and preparation. What can speak of a blatant ignorance of the real situation in the regions or the absence of a training system of this level at all. So the acting ones will have to "survive", mainly by themselves.
What difficulties may arise with the election of Nikitin as governor of the region in September, or is the election procedure now purely formal? Are turnout problems possible in these elections, and how significant are they in general for the new appointee?
The situation, indeed, outwardly looks very problematic. Most often, when assessing the prospects for any elections or trends, they begin to count and delve into certain meanings (historical, social, political, etc.) and “juggle” them expertly. The math only appears in the results. In fact, many processes are explained by pure mathematics much earlier than the elections themselves. I will not go into details and details. I can only say that at present, with such a low political culture of voters, it is possible to achieve the desired result, even without grossly falsifying the results, without any problems - this is all a matter of “technology”. Therefore, the exit to the elections of "acting" is a secondary and even tertiary problem. The same can be said about attendance.
In various media, Andrei Nikitin is called a nominee of Arkady Rotenberg, a protege of Sergei Kiriyenko, a person close to Andrei Belousov, aide to the President of the Russian Federation. He is also characterized as a young "technocrat", and he himself does not deny the latter characterization. On his Twitter, he used to often exchange remarks with the former governor of the Kirov region, Nikita Belykh, and the secretary of the Public Chamber, Alexander Brechalov. Can Nikitin be called a "systemic liberal"? Do you know what clan or interest group in power he represents? And what is the fundamental difference between the “young technocrat” Nikitin and the “red director” Mitin, if there is one at all?
It so happened that we almost simultaneously “learned” about his possible “nomination” to the Novgorod region. I had time to "see" open sources of information about him. I considered the candidate by the opposite method. I was looking for flaws, threats (the good things will manifest themselves over time). I can say with confidence that his external positioning did not cause any negative feelings in me. However, there were subjective reactions indicating some problems in personal communication, communication. In general, he is harmonious, purposeful, professional man. I did not notice any rigid, clear orientations towards political or ideological preferences in his portrait. If we use sociological terminology, then for the time being he is rather developing as a harmonious leader without pronounced “deviations”. I also paid attention to information about a certain connection with Rotenberg, but it is impossible to say how much these individuals are interconnected by some specific obligations to each other, according to the available information.
As for the comparison with Mitin, it so happened that the Novgorod region in 2003 actively participated in the announced Administrative Reform, which paved the way for the transition from sectoral management standards (object management) to project, process management. In 2007, the appointed governor, Sergei Mitin, did not support this topic in the region, and it quietly died. Andrey Nikitin, on the contrary, is a trained project manager, and the Novgorod region, together with him, can very organically raise a forgotten topic again and even become a leader in Russia in this direction.
- How, in your opinion, will relations between the region and the city of Veliky Novgorod develop under Nikitin? The new acting governor has already announced that he knows nothing about the personal conflict between Sergei Mitin and Mayor Yuri Bobryshev and is determined to work constructively with everyone who is interested in working for the benefit of the region. The mayor, in turn, expressed the hope that the new head of the region would "hear" the city. At the same time, it is known that Nikitin is a supporter of replacing "political" mayors with city managers, as he stated earlier. In this sense, what are the prospects for Yury Bobryshev to keep his post until the end of his term of office?
By the way, this question was of particular interest to me. And Nikitin's opinion as a whole coincides with mine. Since the topic for the city is really acute, “stuck”, inertia, meanings, theory, practice are eclectically mixed in it. At this stage, I do not want to talk about any options and offer solutions in this interview without a preliminary detailed analysis of the topic by experts. One thing is clear - the “topic” must be solved not in one move, but in stages, in different environments and information horizons. Within the framework of conceptual reasoning, it is safe to say that the topic has long been overripe. The subjective and the objective are mixed up in it, and there is such a “stuck” that it has nothing to do with the matter at all.
The basic requirement of any management is the creation of conditions for development. In our case, this objective function turned out to be generally beyond attention and concentrated mainly on the clash of personal ambitions, the “competition” of who is cooler - the mayor or the governor, - the confrontation between two leaders of the same type from 2007, who know and apply (quite professionally) only the principles and facility management techniques. Whereas time, social progress, common sense require a transition to project and process development tools and the transfer of ever greater and significant powers to younger generations not burdened with past experience.
- Explaining the early resignation of Sergei Mitin, political scientist, head of the "Political Expert Group" Konstantin Kalachev recalled that in the region "there is a problem of economic stagnation associated with the low resource endowment of the region": we have large production facilities, except for Akron, in general No, and the region itself is subsidized. Kalachev also noted that in the Novgorod region "the image of a medium-term, long-term future was lost." Do you agree with this assessment and, in your opinion, will the new governor be able to radically change something here?
Konstantin Kalachev is a bright representative of external observation (monitoring) of regional development, but I represent an inside view. Unfortunately, in the previous cycle, we did not have the opportunity to reconcile these two necessary forms of observation into one holistic view. There was no customer for the organization of internal surveillance in the region. It was more "necessary" and important for the governor to receive external assessments and signals about regional processes; threats from below were secondary for him. Therefore, my observations from the inside were not taken into account and even rather irritated. The theses formulated by Kalachev are, in principle, correct. The only problem is that it seems that these phrases were not previously conveyed to the consciousness of the previous governor. Sergei Mitin in his rhetoric has never said anything similar either in the media or at meetings. On the contrary, all the rhetoric of the authorities and the governor personally was focused on listing "victories" and focused on demonstrating the "growth" of indicators in all areas of development. Perhaps if he (Mitin) had known these formulations of Kalachev not now, but before, he would have acted and spoken differently?! ..
For three months, residents of the Novgorod Region have become very disappointed in Acting Governor Andrei Nikitin, who, instead of solving pressing problems, is trying to implement projects that are almost incomprehensible to anyone, the interlocutors interviewed by the Club of Regions say. Observers, however, do not doubt his victory in the gubernatorial elections with a low turnout.
Novgorod region
Novgorod region
Experts do not see much activity among potential participants in the gubernatorial elections in the Novgorod region. Acting head of the region Andrei Nikitin, they say, behaves as if he is not waiting for the elections: he is still a “dark horse” for voters, and his potential competitors behave not like a political opposition, but like outsiders.The main thing
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Early years and education
The future governor of the Novgorod region was born on November 26, 1979 in Moscow. However, his childhood years were spent in Miass (Chelyabinsk region) - his father was one of the leaders of the press and body shop at UralAz.After graduating from one of the Miass high schools, Nikitin went to higher education to the Capital University of Public Administration (GUU), where he subsequently defended his diploma (2001) and transferred to graduate school.
Five years later, 27-year-old Nikitin successfully defended his scientific dissertation and became a candidate of economic sciences. The topic of his work was "Organizational change strategy as a tool for effective management".
Interview with Andrey Nikitin in the program "Star on a Star"
However, Andrey did not stop there and in 2007 he was awarded the prestigious MBA degree in the world of economics from the Stockholm School. These successes were noted in the leadership of the SUM, and in 2008 he received the academic title of associate professor at the Department of Organization and Management.
Business and political career
Even while studying at the university, Andrei began to actively engage in business. So, in the early 2000s, he oversaw the legal aspects of the activities of Block Black LLC. In 2001, Teremok-Russian Bliny LLC drew attention to his strategic talents and was offered the position of General Director for Development.Andrey did not stay there for a long time and a year later he became responsible for business development at CJSC Neftegazinvest. At that time, this investment group was developing rapidly, as evidenced by the acquisition in 2002 of the JSC Steklonit plant. In the newly formed structure, Nikitin received the position of general director of TD Steklonit LLC. Andrey Sergeevich worked at this place for about five years, cooperating in parallel with the furniture company KSI LLC and Uralneftegazstroy LLC.
Head of ASI Andrey Nikitin: how to start your own business
In addition, since 2002, Nikitin was listed in the structure of the Ruscomposite business group, where from 2009 to 2011 he held the usual position of general director. It should be noted that no matter what company Andrey appeared in, its profitability increased sharply.
All this time, Andrei Nikitin was a member of the non-profit state organization Delovaya Rossiya. In his competence were issues of youth entrepreneurship and small business. He was also the curator of the promising undertaking "The quality of the roads of the Russian Federation", where they developed a plan to cover the roads with innovative material.
Andrey's career took another turn upward when he won an open competition and, with the approval of the President of the Russian Federation, headed the Agency for Strategic Initiatives in 2011. This company has been involved in improving the national investment climate and other important initiatives, ranging from out-of-school children's education to the creation of investment elevators for non-primary enterprises with great export potential.
During the years of work in this government organization, he was awarded the medal "For Valiant Labor" and more than once received gratitude from President Vladimir Putin.
Against this background, the president's decision to appoint Andrei Sergeevich as acting governor of Novgorod in 2017 looked quite natural. During the years of the reign of the previous governor Sergei Mitin, the region came to a pre-default state. Thus, the young specialist had the opportunity to try his hand at political incarnation.
Andrey Nikitin: personal life, hobbies
Andrei Sergeevich is married and lives with his wife in a Moscow apartment. She is an obstetrician-gynecologist by profession and works in a state medical institution.About himself, Nikitin says that he does not really know how to relax, but he loves delicious food. When he has free time, he reads historical materials about Ancient Rome and writes scientific work. By the end of 2016, six publications under his authorship saw the light of day.
In his youth, Andrei Nikitin dreamed of a motorcycle. He fulfilled his long-standing desire, already being the head of the ASI. True, due to constant work, it is rare to get out somewhere on your favorite iron horse.
He considers himself a technocrat - a person who is convinced that managerial personnel should be highly qualified scientific and technical specialists.
Andrey Nikitin now
In February 2017, Andrei Sergeevich, by presidential decree, took the post of Acting Governor of the Novgorod Region. 
At one of the first speeches, the newly-made head of the region said that the region needs a new, clear and understandable image, as well as attracting creative entrepreneurs.
May 23rd, 2017
Exactly one hundred days have passed since A.S. Nikitin became acting governor. One hundred days is not a very long period for global changes to take place, however, it is quite enough for people to form a personal attitude towards the new acting governor.
I asked my friends, well-known people in the Novgorod region, to answer two questions:
1 - How do you assess the first hundred days of work of the Acting Governor A.S. Nikitin?
2 - What hopes do you associate with the new Acting Governor A.S. Nikitin?
They shared their views: Anton Georgiev, Alexander Zhukovsky, Dmitry Grinenko, Dmitry Ignatov, Elena Mikhailova, Sergey Dobrovolsky, Sergey Maksimenko, Stanislav Popov.
I want to thank my friends for taking some time and talking about their expectations from the new Acting Governor Andrey Nikitin. I also expressed my opinion.
Anton Georgiev (entrepreneur, philanthropist) comments:
I like his constructive approach to business. He does not play for the audience, but tries to do business. I have high hopes for him, I hope that he will help regional businesses and will be able to do a lot for our region.
Alexander Zhukovsky (political scientist, sociologist) comments:
The VRIO entered the region with a low cultural and professional level of the infrastructure of regional, local government with overestimated paternalistic expectations of the population, fixed by the subjective features of the previous political regime in the Novgorod region.
It is noticeable that A. Nikitin in his professional, personal qualities and aspirations is focused on creating conditions for development in the region with an emphasis on project management. He is really trying to involve the region in a new promising reality, which is primarily related to the functions of SERVICE SERVICE of management processes, but not MANAGEMENT itself. This, first of all, is connected and noticeable with the involvement of the potential of experts from the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, other organizations and institutions of Russia. It is this circumstance that today is the basic misunderstanding in the relationship of the new VRIO and the expectations of the qualified part of the population. From A. Nikitin they expected (expect) drastic changes in the very infrastructure of regional local self-government, however, his emphasis on non-direct managerial details strains many.
In the issue of emphasis on SERVICE MANAGEMENT, A. Nikitin acts quite objectively and correctly, but it is precisely this circumstance that strains some environments in the region. The lack of service tools that support and develop effective management created the conditions for the emergence and establishment of authoritarian methods and management in the Novgorod region, and the consolidation of sectoral management principles in the region from the 19th century.
IO's error this issue is not the general strategic direction of its aspirations, but the circumstances showing that external service tools (ASI, etc.) are being introduced into the region, but there are no (not enough) active signals to recreate the creation of its own regional tools that will ensure effective management on a daily basis and across the entire spectrum of regional development, organically integrated into the management infrastructure.
Public dissonance is also caused by new personnel attracted to the region. It is noticeable that they are focused on predominantly project-based forms of development of the territory (except, perhaps, Kolotilova ...?), but this is generally a good setting (“personnel vaccination”), also contradicts erroneous public expectations (inertia) - to restore order in the MANAGEMENT of the region itself , and not on its parts (services).
I would like A. Nikitin to fulfill his intentions to develop the infrastructure of service departments, which over time will replace inefficient means, tools and management principles. Carried out a regional reform in management based on the principles of transition from predominantly established branch management principles to project and process ones. To do this, you need to create your own regional network of such tools and not “hang” the region into dependence on such products and services outside the Novgorod region.
Dmitry Grinenko (social activist, creator of the Borovichi forum) comments:
I rate it ambiguously. On the one hand, the region got rid of the boorish governor who bothered everyone. Acting Nikitin is young, he does not feel ossified, it seems that he really wants to start solving problems. And the so-called "strategic sessions" organized by him throughout the region are proof of this. On the other hand, Nikitin did not completely replace the old team, did not go for cardinal personnel changes. And that would be the key to future change. And in order to develop a personal relationship, you need to see him more in action. The fact that he will win the elections (if he participates in them), no one, I think, is in doubt.
If people from Mitin's team remain in Nikitin's entourage when he becomes a full-fledged governor, I don't feel any hope for improvement. Most likely, Nikitin will not be able to become a full-fledged independent figure if, in my opinion, muddy personalities like I. Verkhodanov, I. Neofitov and the like continue to hang around him. And they will most likely continue. I put all my hope for improving the situation in the country as a whole, and in the region in particular, on the change of the top leadership - the president and the government. Under the current order of unfair distribution of resources, no young and smart governor can radically change the situation.
Dmitry Ignatov (deputy of the Novgorod Regional Duma) comments:
I'll refrain from judging for now. It is necessary to evaluate the deeds, but, in my opinion, there are no deeds yet. As the saying goes, "the retinue plays the king", but the personnel policy of Andrei Sergeevich Nikitin is not yet clear. The thesis is being replicated in various media that there was no development in the Novgorod region, while for 100 days next to Nikitin there were just those people who were responsible for development under Sergei Gerasimovich Mitin. I have the impression that Andrei Nikitin behaves like a business owner and for him the Novgorod region is like an enterprise that needs to be developed. There is one big "but" in this. The owner of the business is not chosen, he is the owner, and Andrei Nikitin will have to be assessed on September 10 by the residents of the Novgorod region. Novgorodians are full of hope that many things will change for the better, but since we hear only words so far, the degree of hope is gradually falling.
We need real interesting federal projects that will give both jobs to people and work for small businesses to service these projects. I hope that Andrei Nikitin, using his connections at the federal level, will help many Novgorod enterprises enter new markets. I hope that the status of local authorities will rise, which today has a huge amount of powers, but does not have the resources to exercise them. I hope that young ambitious people will be in the management of the region. At the same time, the governor needs to show great wisdom in order not to diminish the importance of experienced managers, to put young people in key positions, to attract personnel from other territories, but at the same time to develop local specialists.
Elena Mikhailova (Deputy of the City Duma of Veliky Novgorod) comments:
Alexander Kostyukhin asked my opinion about the first 100 days of work of the Acting Governor of the Novgorod Region Andrey Nikitin.
- I evaluate the first 100 days of work of the VRIO as signs of the coincidence of Andrei Sergeevich's personal career plans with the expectations of the province. He is tasting the tools and functions of the federal government, rightly not seeing the pinnacle of his career in the Novgorod region. And the Novgorod region is waiting at any cost - a flip board. Get out of the swamp with decades of unresolved problems, forward to the quality of life of all generations precisely in the territory between St. Petersburg and Moscow - this is the common desired scenario for us and Nikitin and the “presidential test” for managerial efficiency.
My hopes for the VRIO are hopes for an increase in the pace and will to resolve the issues of the population. Waiting for handouts from Moscow for the life support of the province is a good scenario, but there is a better one. Force, impose, lead trends! The Novgorod region, alas, is like a test tube for experience, we are historically prescribed to be a territory for testing new meanings and technologies: with the Varangian Rurik, with the veche system, with the ability to hold territories from the Baltic to the Urals, with the ability not to suffocate in the backyards of the empire with an open window to Europe . I am looking for pace and will, so I have already proposed a scenario for negotiations with the Council of Europe to improve the city's transport system and a project for an international medical forum called "Citizens have a straight back." While the acting director prefers to work with Muscovites, and not with Novgorodians, while the bureaucratic culture of timely responses to their requests is alien to him, bye-bye-bye - there is hope that there will be a place in Putin’s nominee not for inertia and complacency, but for the pace and will to meet the needs of citizens .
Sergei Dobrovolsky (Parnas party candidate for the State Duma) comments:
No way. None.
Sergei Maksimenko (politician, Yabloko party) comments:
There is nothing to evaluate yet, so far I do not see either a politician or a business executive. Hope for one thing, I would like the Lord to correct the fate of a great country.
Stanislav Popov (politician, NOD movement) comments:
And my hopes are such that Nikitin will be able to become that positive temporary participant in the system who will start the process of compromise of all parts of the system. And then, without dividing, to give development to each in his own direction, for the benefit of the universal. Wait and see!
Alexander Kostyukhin comments:
On May 16, 2017, Andrey Nikitin, Acting Governor of the Novgorod Region, expressed his opinion on the pages of the Izvestia newspaper, in an article entitled "Complicity Resource".
Nikitin talked about who determines the development strategy for the Russian region and how to involve active citizens in its implementation.
My opinion is that the authorities are slowly but surely moving towards the bankruptcy of the country, while trying to share the responsibility for their failed policy with the people. The bureaucracy itself is still trying to keep the people away from power.
That is, they, the bureaucrats, continue to steer as before, and the responsibility for choosing the wrong path will be largely assigned to the people. Nikitin writes that in modern conditions it is necessary to run at least twice as fast. German Gref is sure that you need to run 5-10 times faster.
Moreover, not only the regional leadership, but also all active citizens should run like this. Our Acting Governor is young, but early. He probably thinks our people don't speak Russian. folk tale"Sister fox and grey Wolf". We have wise people, the authorities have taught them not to stick out. Therefore, they will watch from the sidelines and wait for the acting governor to show them what he is capable of.
Our officials believe that our people are gullible and can be deceived endlessly. Bureaucrats are lucky that our people are not very fond of delving into history, so each new generation steps on the same rake.
If the people had stopped for a minute and looked through the pages of history, they would have learned that even the Minister of Finance Sergei Witte in the 19th century ruined the treasury with his actions Russian Empire, entrepreneurs Savva Morozov, Savva Mamontov and other active people.
In his own words, Andrei Nikitin confirms that the authorities cannot be trusted: five years ago, a strategy for the socio-economic development of the Novgorod region until 2030 was adopted. Similar programs have been developed in the regions.
Five years later, many assessments of the situation in the region, on the basis of which the strategy was developed, are outdated. That is, the money went, in fact, into the wastebasket.
I have already written about the strategic mistakes with which the work of the Acting Governor Nikitin in our region began.
The authorities want the people to run forward as quickly as possible, without stopping or looking back, without being able to assess the situation. However, the people do not want to run away - people are tired, they want to stop, take a breath, see what the government is capable of, whether it can lead them along. If the authorities are unable to lead, clearly explaining the goals and priorities of the path, then fermentation begins among the people - people are looking for their own path.
One hundred days have passed since Andrey Nikitin arrived in the region. According to the pace voiced by Nikitin, this time is equal to 200 days, and if we focus on the words of Gref, then three whole years will soon blow. What did Andrei Nikitin manage to do during this time?
As many have said, nothing so far. If Gref believes that it is impossible to move at such super speeds under the leadership of political officers, then Nikitin’s political officers not only retained their positions, but also form a team for the new acting governor.
How is he going to run with them twice as fast, if during the Mitinsky ten years they even almost forgot how to walk?
As for the public sessions, I believe they were held solely for the purpose of preparing A.S. Nikitin for the upcoming elections, and this was done at the expense of the budget. If earlier the president sent his proteges with a baggage of budgetary funds, due to which it was possible to somewhat improve the situation in the region, now instead of money they sent people who offer to be content with public sessions.
In other regions, teams of professionals have long been trained in Skolkovo, who then work effectively on the ground, involving community members in their activities. In the Novgorod region, not only the governor or the acting governor, but not even a single deputy went to Skolkovo in order to learn at least something there. Although the management teams of single-industry towns have been studying there for the third year already. There are 5 single-industry towns in our region, but so far not a single team has been trained.
During this time, the Kemerovo region has already trained 7 management teams at Skolkovo, the Republic of Tatarstan - 6, Bashkortostan, Ivanovo and Nizhny Novgorod regions - 5 teams each, Perm Territory and Chelyabinsk region 4 teams each ... The list goes on and on.
In total, out of 319 Russian single-industry towns, teams out of 133 remained untrained. And 5 of them are located in the Novgorod region. The bottom line is that we are not running anywhere, the Novgorod bureaucrats are not even ready to learn, unlike their colleagues from other regions.
Skolkovo is not only the training of effective teams, it is also the prospect of obtaining TASED status for single-industry towns, which entails federal funding. Two popularly elected heads of the largest single-industry towns in our region, who were trained at Skolkovo and trained their teams, have been removed from their posts. With the new running process, the process froze - no one was sent to Skolkovo. At present, only the team of the Parfinsky district was sent from our region to study in Skolkovo, in which it is not clear how Dmitry Vertkov got into it. Yes, and he was removed from the post of director of the Regional Development Agency after some time.
By the way, people very similar to Bogdanov and Vertkov were seen hundreds of kilometers from Skolkovo, at a time when the session had not yet ended.
On April 20, at an off-site meeting of the Government of the Novgorod Region in Borovichi, the Acting Governor called the idea I expressed about creating a tourist cluster in three districts - Borovichsky, Okulovsky and Lyubytinsky - interesting and promising. I said that I was ready to participate in the implementation of the idea as an investor - however, no one got in touch with me. The only thing is that Mark Veniaminovich Masarsky invited me to take part in organizing the election headquarters of A.S. Nikitin - but I refused.
How can I campaign for a person I don't personally know and don't even know who he is?
People who talk about the acting governor in a similar way to me - in the Novgorod region, as I believe, are the majority.
Well-known Novgorodians, whom I asked to express their opinion about the first 100 days of Andrei Nikitin, speak very carefully. Basically, comments in the spirit of the fact that 100 days is a very short period, and it seems to the acting governor himself that he has found mutual understanding with the inhabitants of the region.
In his article in Izvestia, Andrei Nikitin says so: it seems that we have managed to destroy an artificial pyramid in which the authorities and the population are separated at the poles and are in irreconcilable antagonism. It turned out to be easy, since this antagonism is largely far-fetched. Further, Nikitin states that the task of the authorities is to help people live the way they want. Not to provide, not to guarantee - namely, to help. Entrepreneurs usually say: we don't need help from the authorities, as long as they don't interfere. Ordinary people say: "what are we paying them money for."
That is, it turns out that officials will not provide anything, will not guarantee anything, but will only receive money?
Further, Nikitin writes that he saw people who were ready to do a lot if they were given a little help. Before Nikitin, officials came to the conclusion that if there are people who are ready to do a lot, then they need to be milked. This practice has led to the fact that if in the 90s children from prosperous families wanted to do business, then today's prosperous youth want to build a career in state corporations, and children from poor families want to become representatives of law enforcement agencies.
The Acting Governor believes that it is necessary to help the strong, he is sure of this. I've always been sure of that too. But the policy of our state has always been based on the principle: to take away from the strong and give to the weak, while carrying out such a “redistribution”, the bureaucracy never forgot about its share.
The government still continues to support production at the expense of budgetary funds, which are deeply unprofitable and need urgent restructuring, if not closure. Whom Nikitin considers strong and whom he is going to help - I can’t say anything about this yet.
Further, the Acting Governor tells Novgorodians that the money invested in patching roads from year to year was spent inefficiently. He also offers his own solution to the road problem: to repair roads at a slower pace, but with high quality, so that it will be enough for many years to come. What prevented you from doing so before? It turns out that the lack of public consent interfered.
Interestingly, Andrei Nikitin himself is mistaken, or are there some close people who sowed this false belief in him?
For many years, about the same thing, only in slightly different words, the inhabitants of the Borovichi district heard from the governor Sergei Mitin. Only the queue for the construction of a good road did not reach the Borovichi district ...
I believe that the money was allocated for road construction primarily to those areas where they could be “cut” among interested bureaucrats without any problems.
If Nikitin had analyzed the spending on road construction during his predecessor, he would have seen that the money was allocated by the same municipalities. As a result, there were only a few quality roads in the region, there are none in the areas where they reached, there are no roads in those areas where only crumbs reached.
The Acting Governor says: “I am convinced that we do not have and will not have other resources, apart from those that we ourselves will create.” I am sure of the opposite: there is enough money in the budget for the authorities to provide services of high quality and on time. And with my work in the executive branch, I proved it. Let's see if Andrey Nikitin can prove something to us. Our people no longer believe the words, but there are no real deeds yet.
Photos used in the design of the material: archive of the club "Vechevoy Kolokol", LiveJournal of Nikolai Podosokorsky
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