Victim ambition: why left governor of the Tula region – RBC

The governor of the Tula region, Vladimir Gruzdev Photo: Oleg Yakovlev / RBC

The governor of the Tula region, Vladimir Gruzdev long-negotiated his move: he had a conflict with the federal government and their own career ambitions

The resignation of the governor of the Tula region, Vladimir Gruzdev, President Vladimir Putin met on Tuesday afternoon, the official residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, four days before the birthday of the governor. The official reason for job change announced by the president. “Vladimir Sergeyevich asked to use it on other work due to family circumstances – you have a child born, congratulations, Vladimir Sergeyevich Muscovite [want to be] closer to Moscow”, – quotes the head of the State Kremlin website.

However, could be unofficial reasons for the resignation.

The conflict at the federal level

In Gruzdev was a difficult relationship with a domestic unit of the Kremlin, supervised the first deputy head of the Administration Vyacheslav Volodin, says the source close to the presidential administration, and confirms the familiar Gruzdev. One of the points of misunderstanding between administration officials and Gruzdev were conflicts over appointments in the region, explains the source of RBC in the State Duma.

The interlocutor RBC surrounded Gruzdev said that the question of his resignation had to be solved before the Congress of “United Russia “, scheduled for February 5-6: there must be discussed the rotation of the Supreme Council of the party, which includes Gruzdev.

The powers Gruzdev as governor expired only in August 2016 (he was appointed by President Medvedev even in 2011 year). At the end of November 2015 of the impending resignation from the post of governor of Gruzdev told the newspaper “Vedomosti”. President’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, then reacted strongly to the publication, saying that it looks like “on zakazuhu».

At the same time Gruzdev positions began to decline in the ratings of funds close to the Kremlin. In the ranking of the effectiveness of the pro-Kremlin governor FoRGO he lost ten positions for the year and ended at the end of 2015 51-54-th place. And in late November, head of Tula received “two” in the ranking of survival, which make up the fund, “Petersburg Politics” and holding “Minchenko Consulting” (in the previous similar rating from Gruzdev was “five”). Among the weaknesses of the governor Minchenko and grapes even mentioned “conflicts with some federal groups».

«When a man was dismissed and do not give a clear explanation, the conclusion that there was a conflict with someone on the federal level, “- says political analyst Abbas Gallyamov, noting that within the region have Gruzdev had no problems.

On the one hand, Gruzdev had good economic performance, on the other – on the part of the federal government had a claim to the business -style management “in a fairly conservative area,” explains Vinogradov is now.

Career ambitions

One of the reasons for the weakening of the Gruzdeva Ratings were called “career ambitions.” He was tired of working in the region and believes that a fully realized himself there, says an acquaintance of the governor. The last few months with the Kremlin discussed a possible place of employment Gruzdev, including the head of a business association, said another source close to the governor. As a result, suiting hand option is not found, and probably Gruzdev will be back in the business, he said.

Gruzdev was one of the founders of the retail chain “The Seventh Continent”, but in 2007 sold its stake to the partner Alexander Zanadvorovu about for $ 1 billion, explaining that it has become a priority for the political career. In December 2007, Gruzdev was elected to the State Duma, where he became deputy chairman of the Committee on Legislation. But from the close of business Gruzdev left – he left for clothes retailer “Fashion continent” (network Incity, Deseo), 50,13% of which is owned by his mother Nelly Gruzdev. “Fashion continent” begins in the mid-1990s, today the network Incity, according to the website of the company, has more than 450 outlets in more than 180 cities in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan. Forbes magazine in 2015 estimated the state Gruzdev $ 1.2 billion (68th place in Russia).