Chukotka Autonomous District Governor Roman Abramovich
Photo: Ilya Pitalev
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Another Term for Abramovich in Chukotka
Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted Saturday the candidacy of Roman Abramovich, the incumbent governor of Chukotka Autonomous Area, to Chukotka’s Duma to vest him with the powers of the governor. The deputies will apparently confirm the tycoon as the head of the area, since the Chukotka community earlier unanimously backed him for the second term in office.
Abramovich’s powers expire on December 24. On September 23, Konstantin Pulikovsky, the presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, sent a letter with the candidacies for the governorship to the Kremlin. Before sending the list, the envoy said that Abramovich had agreed to run for the office again.
Roman Abramovich won a seat at the State Duma representing Chukotka Area in 1999 when he mustered 60 percent of votes. In 2000, he was elected Chukotka governor by a 90 percent landslide. Yet, Abramovich stated in 2003 that he would not run for the second term because “the Chukotka project turned out to be too expensive” and “does not bring any satisfaction”. Up to the latest moment, Abramovich, who mostly resides in London and owns Chelsea FC, has not responded officially to the presidential envoy’s offers to stay for a new term. Yet, the session of public and political organizations held in Anadyr this summer gave their support to him.
The fact that Abramovich’s candidacy is submitted long before the fixed schedule means that Pulikovsky managed to finally get him around. Roman Abramovich may be vested with new powers this week, if the deputies of the local legislature decide to vote on his candidacy early this week.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 17, 2005
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