Monday, August 17, 2015

Vladimir Yakunin suggested to go to the Federation Council – RBC

President of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin became a candidate for senator from the Kaliningrad region. His candidature was proposed, the Acting Governor, the candidate of the “United Russia” Nikolay Tsukanov. The governor confirmed RBC that Yakunin gave the nod to the inclusion of the three senators. According Tsukanov, he asked the head of the Russian Railways to represent the region at the beginning of the election campaign, but has only recently received his consent. He noted that long-familiar with Yakunin and his nomination will draw attention to the gubernatorial elections in the Kaliningrad region and allow the region to solve the problem of transport accessibility: in particular, high-speed communications with Moscow. The Governor noted that Russian Railways – the main partner of the regional government.

A senior government official told RBC that “the case seems to be going to resign.” Another official said the device, which Yakunin looking for a job for six months, “the governor before, as it turned out, senator.” In most state-owned companies about a possible change of leadership we learned today. For guidance on the inclusion of news Railways Yakunin, the three senators was a complete surprise, says the source in a state monopoly. “Yakunin is on vacation. With him were preliminary conversations. But the fact that the question of its inclusion in the three settled, Yakunin also learned today. Consent to the inclusion in the top three in the morning urgently prepared, “- says the source. Rather, the inclusion of the three means that Yakunin really go to the Federation Council, and it was the president’s decision, he added. Member of the Board of Directors of Railways says that the question of resignation Yakunin “never even been raised and discussed” during the last two years. Another senior official Railways confirmed that subordinates Yakunin inclusion of the three was the news, and they can not even contact him, because it is in a different time zone – in the Far East.

The original trio of senators was formed without Yakunin participate. Yakunin has replaced the head of the group listed on the organization of occupational health and safety “Gazprom Fleet” Paul Kretova (stated in the report of the Regional Election Commission). The governor’s list also includes the mayor of Kaliningrad Alexander Yaroshuk and current senator Oleg Tkach.

Yakunin is the main challenger to the mandate, the source said RBC’s regional government. The fundamental decision to move Yakunin to the Federation Council decided to confirm the other interlocutor RBC, close to the leadership of the region. It is not necessary that Yakunin go to the Federation Council later this year, RBC said two source close to the leadership of the regional administration. The fact that it is on the three senators, the governor gives the ability to delegate Yakunin to the upper chamber at any time during the five years since the re-election of the governor, said one of the interlocutors.

Yakunin only one of the three candidates and the question of his departure from the Railways are not the responsibility of the governor, commented on his nomination RBC Tsukanov.

«I have to deal with something else»

1 July Yakunin met with Vladimir Putin. He reports to the President on the status of commuter trains. A month before going to the Kremlin, he gave an interview to Interfax, in which he spoke about his future. “Of course, I feel closely connected with the work of Russian Railways, the work of their colleagues. But I know that sooner or later will come a time when I have to do something else. I can not think about it and see it as their task to not retain the unfinished things “- so Yakunin replied to a question whether he sees himself outside the Russian Railways.

Yakunin, Russian Railways has been president for ten years . The government has appointed its first head of the monopoly in June 2005, since the Cabinet extended its mandate three times – in 2008, 2011 and 2014.

The last two years several times it was possible to expect a change in the leadership of Railways. Evening of June 19, 2013, several Russian news agencies, including state, suddenly spread a message of resignation Yakunin and appointment to the post of head of the Russian Railways First Vice President Alexander Misharin. Officials from the government and Russian Railways for a few hours could not comment on those reports. Later, the press service of the government called them fake. Himself Yakunin told Forbes, that the news of the resignation caught him at a meeting with businessmen of Putin “and not spoil your appetite.” According to him, the president reacted to the events as a joke, “said, What is happiness to you a halt».

A year later Yakunin had two months to wait for a contract extension until 2017. Former order appointing him president of the Russian Railways for a period of three years, was dated June 10, 2011, according to sources in the company of RBC. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a decree on reassignment because the candidacy for a long time has not been agreed by Russian President (gave such information to the newspaper “Vedomosti”). RBC source close to the Russian Railways, argued that the formal negotiation of the presidential administration is not required, but an informal approval was still necessary.

August 20 last year, it became known that the administration of President Yakunin agreed candidate for the presidency of the monopoly . Although the head of Russian Railways reached retirement age (he is 65), President Putin “to the principle” will not change it until it remains under sanctions of the West, said RBC senior government official. At the end of March 2014 the US Treasury Department made Yakunin to the list of Russians who are prohibited from entering the country, and their assets on its territory should be frozen. Among the 20 people trapped under sanctions, only four did not hold public office, but, according to the US Treasury, make a close circle of the president of Russia.

In the EU sanctions list Yakunin was not included. According to him, this was due to the help of “European partners” who do everything “in their power.” “If they were in the same situation, I would have them do the same,” – said the president of Russian Railways reporters in late May.

The body of elders

The top three potential senators from the area called gubernatorial candidate before the elections. After the elections, which will be held on September 13 the head of the region will appoint one of the candidates as their representative in the upper house of parliament. During the entire term of the elected governor will be able to replace a senator representing the regional government, on the other candidate from the electoral Three.

Last year the Kremlin discussed the resignation of Tsukanov, earlier told RBC a source close to the leadership region. This was explained by including low-rated governor. At this year’s elections to the city council Baltiysk “United Russia” was defeated, unable to hold back any of their candidates. The leadership of the party then considered guilty domestic unit representatives of the regional administration. Nevertheless replace Tsukanov was not, and it was decided that he will continue to lead the area, says the source close to the Kremlin.

In early August, the Popular Front criticized Railways. ONF representatives criticized the company for spending 527 million rubles. on PR. The criticism of the ONF was preceded by earlier resignations of a number of governors, including those arrested this year, the head of the Sakhalin region Alexander Khoroshavin.

Earlier plans to go to the Federation Council announced many high-ranking officials. In particular, we talked about this ex-head of internal political control of the Kremlin, Oleg Morozov, adviser to President Nikolai Fyodorov and the governor of the Penza region Vasily Bochkarev. The upper house should become a full-fledged body of elders – known and influential, said the source RBK close to the Kremlin.

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