The governor of the Novgorod region, Andrei Nikitin, officially took office. The new Novgorod governor at the inauguration warned of several difficult years. Inauguration of the governor of Novgorod

The ex-governor of the Novgorod region Sergey Mitin as a member of the Federation Council from the region can be explained by the meeting of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin planned for today with the governors elected during the regional elections on September 10. It is likely that before this trip to Moscow, the interim governor of the Novgorod region, Andrei Nikitin (his inauguration is scheduled for October 14), should have closed the question of the “honorary pension” of 66-year-old Mitin (who received no other compensation for his voluntary-forced departure from post of the head of the region in February 2017), since initially this decision was made in the capital.

And if political analyst Evgeni Minchenko calls  Andrei Nikitin’s "personal creature" of Putin, noting, however, also his affiliation with the assistant to the president of Russia, the ex-minister of economic development of the Russian Federation Andrei Belousov, the television channel "Nezygar", known for its insiders, is not the first time insisting that Nikitin - "the creation of the Rothenbergs." Also among the "people of the Rotenbergs" Nezygar referred the newly elected head of the Yaroslavl region Dmitry Mironov and the governor of the Tula region Alexei Dyumin, who is increasingly called the possible successor to Putin as president.

In particular, a political scientist, professor at MGIMO, Valery Solovey, who gained fame as a forecaster, whose predictions often come true, in a recent interview, that if we talk about who will succeed Putin, "security forces - both army men and special services - discuss Dyumin as a predetermined candidate." At the end of July, another insider, chief editor of Radio Echo of Moscow Alexei Venediktov, said that Nikitin’s candidacy was also seen as Putin’s possible successor. "I think that this is a person like Denis Manturov. Like Max Reshetnikov, Andrei Nikitin. Technocrat without a team, without ideology," Venediktov said.

Which of the elite groups will win the competition for the approval of Putin’s successor - the siloviki who bet on conditional Dyumin, or system liberals who prefer a young technocrat like Nikitin - is not so important, because in fact both Dyumin and Nikitin are considered by many experts as members of the same informal influence groups. Whether it is possible to call them Rotenberg nominees after the anonymous Nezigar - a question, but the fact that they are somehow connected with each other is confirmed by a variety of sources. For example, the Ural politician Nafik Famiev back in June of this year, according to which the acting governor of the Novgorod region, Andrei Nikitin, can apply for the post of prime minister of the Russian Federation in the coming years. According to Famiev, Nikitin is the author of the economic programs of the Tula governor Alexei Dyumin, and it is the latter, as the expert believes, that will become Putin's successor.

It is assumed that the governorship of Andrei Nikitin may be short-lived, and after 2-4 years he will be taken away for promotion to Moscow. In any case, if he lingers in Novgorod for a long time and goes for a second term, then this may put an end to his career as a federal official, since in the current conditions he will withdraw the dying and depressed region from the deep socio-economic pit into which he was plunged in ten years of his reign, the predecessor of Nikitin (and now the new senator) Sergey Mitin, is simply unrealistic. Nikitin understands this very well, but in order for him to count on a serious increase, he will obviously need to demonstrate at least some positive results of his work as governor. In this sense, he is very well motivated, and in the short term one can pin some hopes on why I decided to support him in the recent elections.

Today, at noon, the third governor of the Novgorod region, Andrei Nikitin, took office.

The hall of the regional philharmonic was full. A military band on the balcony played the “Trumpeter Song”, known from the film “On the Poor Hussar” - “real life in the city comes when the military comes there.” A new Governor badge was displayed on the stage. The badge was made specially for the inauguration. On the chain there are 22 coats of arms of Veliky Novgorod and regions connected by buttons with double-headed eagles.

The former governor and future senator Sergei Mitin entered the hall. He took a seat next to the director of Akron, Vladimir Gavrikov, and they talked animatedly about something. Other guests shook the former governor's hand, and some hugged him.

Finally, Vice Governor Sergei Sorokin asked everyone to take a seat. A flag was solemnly brought into the hall. And on the screen appeared Andrei Nikitin, who is still the acting governor. He went to the Philharmonic from the side of St. Sophia Cathedral through the guard of honor. Hundreds of guests waited for him in complete silence for several minutes. When the acting the governor took the stage, the chairman of the election commission Tatyana Lebedeva handed him a certificate. And the chairman of the regional Duma Elena Pisareva asked to take the oath. Andrei Nikitin said:

I solemnly swear to faithfully serve the people, to comply with the Constitution, federal and regional laws, the charter of the Novgorod region, to comply with presidential decrees and government decrees of the Russian Federation.

Then a hymn sounded.

The host announced that now Andrey Sergeyevich is the governor of the Novgorod region. Deputy ambassador to the NWFD Vladimir Sevrikov came out to congratulate him. He read out the congratulations of the plenipotentiary, in which he asked special attention to be paid to the economy of the region. Metropolitan Leo read out the congratulations of the patriarch.

Then Andrei Nikitin spoke again. He specifically said:

We have some very difficult years ahead. The development program will have to be implemented in the face of a shortage of funds and a high borrowing budget. The reason for this is pointless to look for in one thing. This is due to the sum of factors, a kind of ideal storm, in which the region’s economy fell with the whole country. Unfortunately, we are experiencing it harder than some other territories. We are losing competition with other regions for modern jobs, for the conditions of doing business, for the quality of life. The level of health care and social institutions in the regions has not changed much over the past decades. However, people often cannot get to hospitals and clinics. Roads do not meet any requirements; the water supply system has long been worn out. Due to the high mortality rate, the population decline rate is one of the highest in the country.

But a region with such a history, according to Nikitin, cannot abandon its future. We must become one of the business, cultural and tourist capitals of Russia. It’s not fast to do everything, but as Churchill said: “Let's get started.”

Outlining priorities: developing healthcare, creating the country's best investment climate, creating a comfortable environment in cities, Nikitin invited officials to work together, abandoning subtle intrigues. He promised support to the volunteers and thanked the caring people who paid attention to various shortcomings.

He ended his speech with a quote from the archipescope of Novgorod Feofan Prokopovich: "The goal is achieved by our faith and good deeds."

The Malachite group performed the song of the Old Park group: "I will pray for Russia, I am in the Russian church."

This ended the inauguration. And the governorship has begun.

Photo by Alena Kuznetsova

The governor of the Novgorod region, Andrei Nikitin, officially took office. The inauguration ceremony was held in the large hall of the regional philharmonic. Andrei Nikitin took the oath and received the certificate of the chief official of the region.

Ladies in elegant dresses, men in classic suits - the protocol ruled that day. The public, the heads of enterprises, representatives of government bodies from municipal to federal structures, the clergy and journalists themselves gathered to witness the historical event in the Novgorod Philharmonic. Only about five hundred people, among whom are many familiar faces.

Here the ex-governor is walking along the Novgorod Kremlin, and now he is a member of the Federation Council from the Novgorod region Sergey Mitin, State Duma deputy Alexander Korovnikov, here is another parliamentarian Anton Morozov, by the way, he is also a competitor to Andrei Nikitin at the last gubernatorial elections. September 10, Andrei Nikitin confidently beat competitors, gaining 67.99 percent of the vote.

The governor is handed the certificate to the chairman of the regional election commission, Tatyana Lebedeva, and the speaker of the regional Duma, Elena Pisareva, as it should and invites the elected head of the region to take the oath of allegiance to the inhabitants of the Novgorod region, the Russian constitution and the charter of the region.

The inauguration of Andrei Nikitin was much more modest and dynamic than that of his predecessors. Only a few people performed from the stage. Metropolitan of Novgorod and Old Russia the lion read congratulations from the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, and the wishes of the plenipotentiary representative of the president in the North-Western District Nikolai Tsukanov conveyed his deputy Vladimir Sevrikov.

In his first official speech, as governor, which lasted about 20 minutes, Andrei Nikitin talked about the fact that we will have some difficult years. The development program will have to be implemented in the context of a shortage of funds and a high borrowing budget. The economy of the region, together with the whole country, as the governor put it, fell into a storm, but survived it harder than other entities. There is a lot of work to be done, and residents are waiting for the results now. From the Philharmonic, after a small buffet,

Andrei Nikitin went straight to his office, where he also invited journalists. Behind the door, the tablet on which has lost the prefix "IO" the governor first shows his workplace after repair. Correspondents are interested in whether there will be further personnel shifts in the government. “They will!” Nikitin replies. An open selection will be announced for vacated posts. This will give work to those who are truly worthy. Maybe then the Novgorod region, like this office, will change over time.

At a press conference following the results of the gubernatorial campaign, Andrei Nikitin was asked when his inauguration will take place. The newly-minted head of the region replied that only one person can have an inauguration in Russia - the president, and a solemn ceremony of taking office is provided for the governors. The correspondent of the Internet portal "Novgorod.ru" attended a protocol event, but did not find a difference between the two.

On Saturday morning, the path from the entrance to the Kremlin to the regional philharmonic society turned into a “red carpet” for Novgorod politicians. Journalists and photographers from eleven in the morning guarded those invited to the inauguration of the elected governor of the Novgorod region, Andrei Nikitin.

- Happy Holy Mother of God! - so can only say hello chairman of the Regional Duma Elena Pisareva.

She greeted the colleague in the thought of the liberal democrat Alexei Chursinov.

Chursinov accompanied the loser of the State Duma deputy Anton Morozov. The protest spirit of Morozov, demanding through the court to remove Nikitin from the race, has subsided.

- This was not a fight, Novgorodians were given a chance to make a choice - whom they want to see as the governor. Novgorod residents made a choice in favor of Nikitin, I will continue to work as a deputy of the State Duma, said Novgorod.ru Anton Morozov.

While on the steps of the philharmonic the city deputy Yuri Veselyev froze, trying to hide over his jacket with a sweater, Nikitin's adviser Andrei Danilov was talking on the phone. On Facebook, you can see him on a scooter, whether Danilov uses this type of transport in Veliky Novgorod, remains unknown.

“Yes, there were no tickets, I got there on my way,” Danilov said to someone on the phone.

Still, there was one intrigue at the protocol event - whether Sergei Mitin, who would soon have vacated the governor’s chair, would arrive. Now, however, he has another position - well-paid, but almost invisible to the average man. Maybe that's why Mitin appeared in the building of the regional philharmonic society without unnecessary pathos and without his colleague Veronika Minina. Minina stayed away from the former boss.

Mitin was accompanied by a State Duma deputy, a former senator with a controversial reputation, Alexander Korovnikov. Politicians were in a special room where journalists could only glance through ajar doors. Korovnikov suddenly turned around and we signaled to him, they say, call Mitin.

- Sergey Gerasimovich, Novgorod journalists want to talk with you.

- Well guys, let's not now. I was driving from Moscow by car.

“Yes, true, only to the Novgorod region,” Mitin smiled.

- Well, you can understand.

At the inauguration ceremony, Sergei Mitin got the happy 13th row and the neighborhood with Acron Executive Director Vladimir Gavrikov. The irony from the organizers of the event, if we recall the conflicts of the former governor with the industrial giant.

The deputy of the regional parliament Dmitry Ignatov, as always, was in high spirits. With a vigorous gait, with his hand in his trouser pocket, he entered the hall. Ignatov turned the badge with his second hand as he twisted the barrel before a cowboy duel in the Wild West. This scene was accompanied by music from the film “On the Poor Hussar”, which was played by a military band from St. Petersburg.

After the flag was brought into the hall, Andrei Nikitin appeared on the screen. He walked from St. Sophia Cathedral to the Regional Philharmonic, as the cameraman walked with him, the picture shook. The image went blank, there was an awkward pause in the hall - the guests were waiting for Andrei Nikitin to climb the stairs to the hall. Someone used this time to change seats, while someone took out a mobile phone and prepared to shoot.

From somewhere on the walkie-talkie I heard: "The governor is in place." Andrey Nikitin entered the room. The head of the region was welcomed while standing.

Nikitin was given a certificate, he took the oath. Congratulation from the Plenipotentiary Envoy to the NWFD Nikolai Tsukanov was read out by his deputy Vladimir Sevrikov. Metropolitan Leo also congratulated Andrei Nikitin on behalf of Patriarch Kirill.

The speech of Andrey Nikitin lasted more than ten minutes. At this time, pipes from a military band tried to sleep. But in fact, it was unexpectedly interesting to listen to the elected, as is now customary to emphasize, governor. He did not begin to blur in favor of political traditions in abstract speeches about the unrealized potential of the region. Nikitin said bluntly - in the near future it will hurt.

- I will not dissemble: we have to live some very difficult years. The development program will have to be implemented in the context of a shortage of funds and a high borrowing budget. The reason for this situation is meaningless to seek in one thing. This is to blame for the sum of factors, a kind of “perfect storm”, in which the region’s economy fell with the whole country. But, unfortunately, survived it harder than many other territories, - stressed Nikitin.

Nikitin also mentioned that in the coming years it is planned to develop a mechanism of a social elevator for young people in the region, and the authorities will be formed exclusively by competitive selection.

- Today I would like to announce an open selection to the government of the Novgorod region for the position of the leaders of the industry blocs in economics, culture, hunting and fishing. Using this mechanism, we will select the best candidates for all key positions. Everyone who has the ability, qualification, ambition should be in demand. Get the opportunity to prove himself in the state and municipal services, in educational and health care institutions, in business and in the workplace, ”said Andrey Nikitin.

True, the elected governor for six months of his work did not really follow the stated principles. The staff of the regional government was replenished, mainly due to residents of Moscow or other regions.

They did not begin to hang the breastplate of the governor on Andrei Nikitin, as was customary at previous inaugurations. Instead, the festival's scriptwriters chose a cinematic move - Andrei Nikitin took his wife's hand, and they left the room to the music. All that was missing was the End phrase and captions.

Valdai National Park decided to expand its audience and invited representatives of travel agencies and journalists to the information tour. The Internet portal "Novgorod.ru" joined the trip to see with their own eyes what the outback Novgorod can offer a tourist today.

On April 3, Alyona Medyantseva and her mother rode in the car of the St. Petersburg metro when an explosive device went off in it. Later, journalists write that the mother died covering her daughter. In one second, a severe tragedy fell on the Alena family. On social networks, she was inundated with messages that were not always benevolent in nature. Alyona Medyantseva and her husband Stanislav Antipenko told Novgorod.ru why it is important at this moment, in spite of everything, not to feel anger, but to continue to love.