Disgrace or a particularly important task? Turchak’s departure to Gorny Altai is being discussed online
The Federation Council today prematurely terminated the powers of its first vice-speaker Andrei Turchak in connection with his appointment as acting head of the Altai Republic.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko recalled Turchak’s merits. In particular, that he actively supported the Northern Military District and new regions of Russia.
“Andrey Anatolyevich, we deal with all subjects as the Chamber of Regions, but now the Altai Republic is moving to a priority place, and you can always count on our help and support,” Matvienko said.
She presented Turchak with an honorary badge of the Federation Council for his services in the development of parliamentarism. The senators gave a standing ovation.
“I count and hope for each of you. I thank the president for his trust. I'm not afraid of work. “I have the honor,” Turchak said goodbye.
Rumors about the transfer of the vice-speaker of the Federation Council to the gubernatorial position appeared on Monday and created a sensation among experts. Turchak was classified as a so-called “prince” (children of high-ranking officials pursuing a political career). His father, a Soviet and Russian production organizer, was Vladimir Putin's deputy on the St. Petersburg regional council of the Our Home is Russia movement in the 1990s and is considered a friend of the Russian president.
“One of the “red princes” (children of Putin’s close associates) Turchak was taken out of the hands of the enemies he had made in Moscow and sent to the Altai Republic, away from palace intrigues,” a foreign agent and former editor-in-chief wrote in his tg channel radio station "Echo of Moscow" Alexey Venediktov.
Experts perceived Turchak’s new appointment with ambiguity, and journalists confused the Altai Territory, a large and powerful region, with the Altai Republic, where the vice speaker will go.
“The Altai Republic, where Andrei Turchak is heading, is in last place out of 85 regions in all indicators, in terms of population in 81st place, and in standard of living and GRP in approximately 83rd place. That is, it is almost the smallest and poorest region of Russia. Therefore, many believe that sending Turchak there is a sharp decline. And they wonder why?” political scientist Sergei Markov explained the situation.
And economist Nikita Krichevsky was happy for the Altai people.
“Andrei Anatolyevich has such support in the power structures that it is possible to build a bridge to the Moon from Altai,” he wrote.
To explain such a strange appointment of the “prince,” a version arose about the imminent merger of the Altai Republic and the Altai Territory, but the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov quickly denied them. Then new versions appeared.
“I believe that in the situation with Altai this means the president’s personal attention to the development of the region, relying on a trusted person. Rumors about the unification of two Altai into one may remain just rumors, but the fact is that attention to the territories is growing is obvious. The republic is of interest to Gazprom (Power of Siberia - 2), Sberbank (investments in the tourism sector of the region, the Manzherok resort) and a number of other large investors. We need a manager with experience,” wrote political strategist Roman Molozhon.
Western media suggested that the “exile of the patriot” Turchak is due to the fact that the Kremlin is preparing to conclude a truce, but military correspondent Semyon Pegov holds a diametrically opposite opinion.
“Sane military analysts predict after/in parallel with the conflict in Ukraine – serious showdowns in Central Asia, which the Anglo-Saxons are already pumping with might and main. If something happens, we will need well-functioning logistics hubs and strong executive power there. For an explosive situation, a person who has already smelled gunpowder (and Andrei Turchak is one of those!) is much better suited,” he wrote.
When moving to the gubernatorial position, Turchak will also leave his other post - head of the General Council of United Russia. Political scientist Marat Bashirov highly appreciates his services to the party.
“He rebuilt the party from a partially local elite organization into a virtually volunteer detachment, ready to be with the country and people wherever help is needed. He turned public opinion about what United Russia is. Today it is exclusively the party of the president. Ask sociologists,” Bashirov wrote.
However, colleague Maxim Zharov does not agree with him. He considers Turchak’s appointment to Altai a punishment for the fact that Northern Military District veterans did not win in the recent party primaries.
In recent months, United Russia has lost its status as “Putin’s party” and has ceased to be the voice of the president. This was especially noticeable during the primaries, where the whole country was shown such phenomenal and previously impossible things for United Russia as the scandal with the Northern Military District veterans. Now United Russia faces a difficult path of renewal. And it will either again become the only party in power in the country, or another party project will be created in its place,” Zharov wrote.
According to rumors, Turchak’s party position will be taken by the Ural plenipotentiary Vladimir Yakushev. Formally, according to the procedure, party chairman Dmitry Medvedev must appoint the acting secretary of the General Council.
English version :: Read in English: Disgrace or a particularly important mission? Turchak's departure to the Altai Mountains is discussed online.