In a discussion on unemployment with Minister for health and social development Tatyana Golikova, the president was informed that the Russian regions are handling the economic crisis “sufficiently well”, but that there still are problems in Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Samara and Kaliningrad, Vedomosti.ru writes. According to the minister, these regions have still not implemented any anti-crisis programs, despite federal allocations to these goals.
As BarentsObserver reported, President Medvedev in June threatened to dismiss governors who fail to take measures against unemployment.
Deputy Governor on social issues in Arkhangelsk Oblast Yelena Kudryashova is surprised that her region has been put on the presidents black list: unemployment is decreasing and is only 2.8 percent. Officials in Murmansk say that the unemployment rate there is among the lowest in the district, but admits that there are some problems with finding work for former military personnel.
A source close to the presidential administration tells Vedomosti that the governors in the four mentioned regions are not threatened by dismissal, but that they have to show willingness to improve the situation.
