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Return to power for Nenets Okrug

Regional leader Igor Koshin is strengthing the government powers of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

The oil-rich Nenets Autonomous Okrug grabs back the government powers it previously lost to neighboring Arkhangelsk Oblast.

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The region, sparsely populated and highly rich in natural resources, is boosting its government powers, regional leader Igor Koshin confirms. According to Koshin, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug will soon have «the full set of government powers».

In a meeting between Koshin and Arkhangelsk Governor Igor Orlov this week an agreement was elaborated and this is now ready for signing, a press release from the Nenets administration reads.

The take-back of power comes after the Nenets Okrug in 2008 lost key powers to the neighboring far bigger Arkhangelsk Oblast. Nenets leaders have since argued that the transfer of authorities must be reversed, saying that Arkhangelsk is not fit to cope with management responsibilities in the NAO. 

Life standards and salaries in the Nenets AO are far higher than in Arkhangelsk Oblast, and the population and social structures significantly differ between the regions. In Russian legislation, the okrugs have status as regular federal subjects but with less authorities than the oblasts and republics.