Aman Tuleev will retire. Why did Tuleev resign and how will this affect Kuzbass? The only right decision

The possible resignation of the head of the Kemerovo region has been discussed for a long time, and it followed the tragedy in "Winter Cherry"

Ex-governor of the Kemerovo region Aman Tuleev

Moscow. 2 April. site - The resignation of 73-year-old Aman Tuleev from the post of governor of the Kemerovo region, which evil tongues have been unsuccessfully prophesying over the past years, nevertheless took place last Sunday and turned out to be not an April Fool's joke.

The statement on early resignation was Tuleev's reaction to the shopping and entertainment center "Winter Cherry" in Kemerovo, which claimed the lives of 64 people, most of them children.

“I consider (resignation) for myself the right, conscious, the only right decision, because with such a heavy burden as governor, well, it’s impossible, it’s morally impossible,” Tuleev said in a video message.

Resignation in the Telegram channel

The message that the governor submitted a letter of resignation to Russian President Vladimir Putin first appeared on the Telegram channel of the Kemerovo regional administration. Tuleyev's video message was also published there.

Confirmation that this time everything is for real, came from the presidential envoy to the Siberian Federal District, Sergei Menyailo.

"Aman Gumirovich (Tuleev - IF) has made his resignation, this is not an April Fool's joke. The governor's decision has been made - this is his right," the plenipotentiary told Interfax on Sunday afternoon.

Vive le Roi

Later it became known that Putin had dismissed Tuleyev, and Sergey Tsivilev, deputy head of the region, was appointed acting governor.

Tsivilev came to the post of vice-governor in early March, before that he headed the Kolmar company, which produces coal in the south of Yakutia. At the same time, he explained to reporters that in recent years he had increasingly received offers to change jobs, but he asked everyone to wait for the moment when his enterprise began to develop independently.

“At that time, Tuleev called me and invited me to his place. I arrived, and he told me: “Sooner or later you will go to the civil service, you have no other option, and since the situation is unfolding like this, come to me.” I am glad that I work in his team," Tsivilev said.

According to him, Tuleev's proposal "was the last straw", after which he decided to move away from business and become an official.

At the same time, in early March, informed sources assumed that shortly after the presidential election, Tsivilev "would be appointed acting governor."

As a result, this happened, however, in completely different circumstances related to the tragedy in "Winter Cherry".

“I am accepting the region at a very difficult moment, when dozens of people and, above all, our children, died in a terrible fire. I want to tell you, the residents of Kemerovo and the entire region, that I will do everything to ensure that those responsible for this terrible tragedy suffer the strictest punishment. All information will be provided to punish those responsible," Tsivilev said in a video message.

"No one will be shielded or hidden. This terrible tragedy rallied not only Kemerovo, but the whole country in grief and compassion. We will not leave the victims and relatives of the victims alone with misfortune. We will do and will do everything to support them in these difficult days, provide them with all possible assistance and support," he stressed.

Continuity

In the same video message, Tsivilev promised to keep all the initiatives for the development of the Kemerovo region adopted by the previous administration.

"I want to assure all of you, every inhabitant of the region, that I am implementing all initiatives and decisions for the development of the region... I am convinced that only in dialogue with people can we strengthen the well-being of the inhabitants of the region, ensure their safety, and lay the foundation for the development of new generations of Kemerovo residents" - said the acting governor.

What did Tuleev remember

Ethnic Kazakh Tuleev was born in 1944 in the city of Krasnovodsk, Turkmen SSR. Graduated from the Novosibirsk Institute of Railway Engineers (1973) and the Academy of Social Sciences under the Central Committee of the CPSU (1989). Ph.D. In 1990 he was elected to the Kemerovo Regional Council of People's Deputies and was its chairman. In 1993-1996 - Deputy of the Federation Council from Kuzbass, head of the Legislative Assembly of the Kemerovo region.

Three times Tuleev applied for the presidency of the RSFSR and the Russian Federation: in 1991, 1996 and 2000. In 1996-1997 he was a member of the government of the Russian Federation, the minister of the Russian Federation for cooperation with the CIS countries. In July 1997, he was appointed head of the administration of the Kemerovo region, and in October of the same year he won the election of the head of the region.

"Baptism of fire" for Tuleev was the miners' strike in 1998, when workers blocked traffic on the Trans-Siberian Railway, seeking payment of wage arrears.

Tuleev also won the gubernatorial elections in 2001 and 2015, in 2005 his powers were extended by President Putin, and in 2010 the decision to approve him as governor was made by the Council of People's Deputies of the Kemerovo Region on the proposal of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev.

In public policy, Tuleev spoke out against the radical economic reforms being carried out by Boris Yeltsin, Yegor Gaidar and their supporters. In the 2016 film, which tells about the biography of Tuleev in the context of world history, special attention was paid to the confrontation between the Tuleev family and the Gaidar family. As it turned out, the roots of their conflict go back to the period of the Civil War. The film claimed that Gaidar's grandfather, the children's writer Arkady Gaidar, participated in the execution of the grandfather of the Kemerovo governor, White Guard Kaldybay Tuleyev.

In 2016, Tuleev's health deteriorated - it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to move around without help, and after the operation in 2017, the governor rarely got into the lenses of video cameras.

"Together with you, we have traveled a long, very long way of life - from Kuzbass on strike, sitting on rails, clattering with helmets, to Kuzbass, creating and supporting our state. And all this was done by you, you. And I am immensely grateful. Quite honestly, how in front of the icon, I can tell you that in my work I have always been guided by the interests of our country, Russia and our region," Tuleev said in a video message to the residents of the region on Sunday.

He stated that he considers the decision to resign to be correct, conscious and the only true one. He said this during a video message posted on the regional administration's Youtube channel. “I consider it the right, conscious, the only right decision for myself, because with such a heavy load (after the fire in the Winter Cherry shopping center in Kemerovo) as governor, well, it’s impossible, it’s morally impossible,” Tuleev said.

The petition for early resignation has already been signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the website reports.

Tuleev has been governing the Kemerovo region since 1997, in 2015 he was re-elected for a fourth term. Now, the ex-governor has been sharply criticized by the public on social networks for his behavior after the tragedy in the Zimnyaya Cherry shopping center. The fire killed 64 people, many of them children. It is worth noting that the niece of Tuleyev himself also died during the fire. However, the anger of the public did not soften this fact.

Fuel to the fire was added by the fact that the governor asked for forgiveness for what had happened in the region not from citizens, but from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had flown to Kemerovo. He also called the citizens who gathered in the city square, who demanded an answer from the authorities for what had happened, "buzoters" who are trying to make political capital out of the tragedy.

It is known that the governor had health problems. In June last year, he underwent heart surgery, after which he underwent a long rehabilitation and was absent from work for a long time.

Tuleev ran for the presidency of Russia three times - in 1991, 1996 and 2000, and previously held various government posts. After his departure, the head of the Belgorod region will remain the only governor of the Yeltsin era.

At the beginning of his career, Tuleev declared leftist views and relied on support. In 1991, he supported the leadership of the State Emergency Committee, which was trying to remove the union president.

In 1999, he publicly refused to accept the Order of Honor from the hands of the president, saying that this government "plunged the country into poverty." Subsequently, however, Tuleev accepted the award from the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Having started his career in the Kemerovo region as a "people's" governor, over the years in power, Tuleev turned into an authoritarian leader, even by Russian standards, providing loyalty to the authorities with large percentages filed for. At the same time, Tuleev was also supported by local "coal kings", who were interested in stability in the region.

“Tuleyev was needed to ensure the result of the presidential election. Everything, or almost everything, rested on his authority in the Kemerovo region. Tuleev was a talented populist, but no one denies that he had principles. You need to leave on time, while you are remembered as a good and honest man. The deformation from a long stay in power also affected him, ”Konstantin, a political scientist and head of the Political Expert Group, tells Gazeta.Ru.

Clouds were really gathering over Tuleev - according to the rating of "Political survival of governors" in 2017, which is compiled by the agency "Petersburg Politics", the governor became the object of attacks, attempts were made to design a "post-Tuleev" configuration of forces.

Back in 2016, two deputies of Tuleev, as well as the head of the regional one, became defendants in a criminal case of extortion. It was, according to law enforcers, about an attempted raider seizure of the mine "Razrez" Inskoy ".

It is worth noting that when the townspeople asked Putin, who had flown to Kemerovo, about Tuleev's resignation, he said that he would not fire him “under the cameras”. At the same time, political scientist Kalachev notes that Tuleev’s departure is “a completely expected resignation, rumors about which have been circulating since September last year.”

However, the fact that the resignation took place on Sunday suggests that "the move was forced." Tuleev's decision to leave the post could hasten the arrival of the head of the Investigative Committee in the region, the expert argues.

Bastrykin himself in the open part of the meeting, without naming Tuleev, rather sharply criticized both local and regional authorities for the fire in Kemerovo.

“An era has ended. Tuleev will soon be of interest only to historians. And if he left a little earlier, at least make a statement that after the presidential elections he is ready to leave the chair, now everything would look completely different, ”says Kalachev.

Instead of Aman Tuleyev, his deputy Sergey was appointed as interim head of the Kemerovo region. As stated in, the election of a new head will be held on September 9 on a single voting day, and a decision on their appointment must be made before July 10.

Tsivilev, who worked in the coal business in Yakutia, is called the person who, most likely, will lead the region after the elections. He became deputy governor in March of this year. During a spontaneous public rally, he went out to the crowd and, after a skirmish with those gathered, asked for their forgiveness. Yielding to emotions, Tsivilev even went down on one knee in front of people, explaining this by Russian custom.

Kalachev calls Tsivilev "an effective manager." And he says that, having visited the enterprise in Yakutia, the head of which is Tsivilev, he saw in front of him a “modern enterprise”, where the workers actively supported Putin.

Irina Alksnis, for RIA Novosti

The resignation of Aman Tuleev from the post of governor made us remember those already quite old times, when any changes in the leadership of the Russian regions were akin to tectonic shifts in the political system of the whole country.

Many governors and presidents who took office in the 1990s were at that time political heavyweights not only at their own regional, but also at the federal level. But even in those days, few could compete on equal terms with the Kemerovo governor, who not only successfully headed a very complex and important region, but was also a truly influential federal politician.
Those times are long gone.

Governors in Russia have long ceased to be inviolable political persons, and there are now a minimum number of iconic figures of a federal scale among them. Rotation in their ranks has become an ordinary process and, in addition to the citizens themselves in these regions, they are mainly interested in the Russian management class and a narrow circle of experts in this field. Yes, and criminal cases against former and current heads of regions are now initiated in batches.

Changes in the Russian political system have also fully affected Aman Tuleev, who has long turned into just one of many dozens of Russian governors, who stand out among their colleagues only for their political longevity and special respect for him from colleagues and the federal center.

But, ironically, the circumstances of the departure from the post of the Kemerovo governor are such that they make us remember the old days, when any governor's resignation caused heated discussions and numerous assumptions among the widest audience.

There is hardly any doubt that if Aman Gumirovich had the opportunity to turn back time, he would prefer a quiet and boring resignation, like most of his colleagues from the 1990s. But history cannot be reversed, and the end of the career of the Kemerovo governor is now forever connected with a terrible fire in which dozens of people died.

Although you can look at this situation from the other side.

Aman Tuleev became the first case in the history of modern Russia when the head of the region (albeit not immediately) took responsibility for the tragedy that occurred on his territory and left his post in connection with this.

As you know, just a couple of days ago, the Kremlin emphasized the topic of the resignation of the Kemerovo governor, refusing to comment on this issue. At the same time, the Russian president's statements during his trip to Kemerovo left no doubt that this time the "switchmen" would not be punished, and all those responsible for what had happened would receive their due, regardless of status and past merits.

However, despite this, Tuleev's departure from office came as a surprise to many: most observers were inclined to believe that, although his resignation was imminent, a pause of several months would be taken before it was announced.

© Ruptly

It is worth paying tribute to one of the veterans of Russian politics, who, with his current step, actually laid a new tradition of the Russian state-political system. And it makes sense to consider Vladimir Putin's phone call after the acceptance of the petition for early resignation with gratitude for the work in this context.

The ability of a high-level leader to take personal responsibility deserves respect in any case. And especially in a situation where he is a "pioneer" in this traditionally difficult area for Russia, especially.

Another thing is that Aman Tuleev has become a very clear example for the Russian system in another sense. The Kemerovo authorities were severely criticized not only for the tragedy, but also for serious lapses in their response to it, in particular, for problems in communicating with the shocked residents of the region.

Here, of course, a logical question arises: would these frictions arise between the authorities and Kemerovo residents if Tuleev was still full of strength, energy and talent to talk with people for whom he was so well known throughout Russia twenty years ago?
This reminds the leaders of the state-political system of Russia the lesson of the deplorable consequences of the Soviet gerontocracy.
However, taking into account how intensively in recent years a new generation of managers has been preparing and putting into operation, at the very top of the Russian state, this is obviously well understood.

Head of the Kemerovo region Aman Tuleev asked the president to accept his early resignation after the fire at the Winter Cherry shopping center, in which, according to official figures, 64 people died.

The only right decision

Aman Tuleev, who led the Kemerovo region for 21 years, announced his resignation. This is stated in the message on the website of the regional administration. He asked President Vladimir Putin to resign "at his own request," the report says.

Tuleev explained the reasons for his resignation in a video message. “I consider it the right, conscious, the only right decision for myself, because with such a heavy burden as governor, well, it’s impossible, it’s morally impossible” the governor of the region said.

He noted that the state of emergency in Kuzbass was a terrible tragedy experienced by all the inhabitants of Kuzbass: “Each of us has already passed all this through our hearts, all this horror, the pain of this catastrophe ... All of Russia and the whole world are grieving with us.”

According to the outgoing governor, he did "everything he could." “I met with the families of the victims, tried to resolve issues with the provision of assistance. Once again, I offer my deepest condolences. But you have to live, keep on living. Live to keep the memory of those we have lost"- added Tuleev.

Punish those responsible for the tragedy

Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the early termination of Tuleyev's powers and appointed him as acting head of Kuzbass Sergei Tsivilev, who became deputy governor in early March.

Tsivilev also made a video message to the residents of Kuzbass. In his statement, he promised to do everything so that those responsible for the fire in the Winter Cherry shopping center were punished. The politician stressed that all the necessary information would be provided to the investigation, and no one "would be shielded or hidden."

“I am taking over the region at a very difficult moment, when dozens of people died in a terrible fire, and above all our children. I want to tell you, the residents of Kemerovo and the entire region, that I will do everything so that those responsible for this terrible tragedy suffer the strictest punishment.- said the acting governor.

Tsivilev also promised to provide assistance to the victims and relatives of the victims of the fire in the Winter Cherry.

“All of us together must do everything to make the life of Kemerovo residents safe and dignified. Our future depends only on you and me,- the politician says in his appeal.

The fire in the shopping center "Winter Cherry" in Kemerovo occurred on March 25. According to the latest data, at least 64 people died in it, including 41 children. According to the investigation, the fire alarm system did not work in the shopping center that day, and the guard on duty turned off the fire safety system.

On the morning of March 27, a spontaneous rally began in Kemerovo demanding a transparent investigation into the fire and the resignation of Tuleyev and officials of the city administration. Tuleev did not appear at the rally. But he met with President Vladimir Putin, who had arrived in Kemerovo, and asked his forgiveness for what had happened.

After the tragedy in the shopping center "Winter Cherry" in Kemerovo, the governor of the Kemerovo region Aman Tuleev submitted a petition to Vladimir Putin for early resignation from his post on April 1. The President accepted the petition, appointing Vice-Governor Sergei Tsivilev as acting governor. Despite Tuleev’s statement that his decision to resign was voluntary, social networks considered the departure forced, and also remembered the governor’s efforts to follow the instructions “from above” in everything.

The governor of the Kemerovo region, Aman Tuleev, resigned ahead of schedule at his own request. Tuleyev announced his decision in a video message to the residents of the region. The entry was published on the website of the administration of the Kemerovo region, as well as on the YouTube channel of the press service on April 1. In his appeal, Tuleev noted that he had decided to resign in connection with Kemerovo.

Today, I want to tell you now, I have submitted my resignation to the President of the Russian Federation. I think for myself, well, the right, conscious, the only right decision. Because it’s impossible to work as a governor with such a heavy load. Morally impossible.

Some media outlets and users agreed that Tuleyev's resignation was not at all voluntary and that such a decision was “let down” to the former governor from above. So, according to the expert of the Center for Political Technologies Alexei Makarkin, if it were not for the fire in the shopping center, Tuleev would not have given up his post, writes.

Probably, from somewhere above, they asked him, to put it mildly, but they framed it in the form of his decision, because this is still an era in the history of the region and it would hardly be possible to simply dismiss a person here. I think that if not for this tragedy, he would have been the head of the region for some time.

There is a version that the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, convinced Tuleev to resign, writes FlashSiberia, citing a source from the agency. According to the interlocutor of the agency, Bastrykin met with Tuleev in Kemerovo on March 31 and gave him a message about the need to leave the post.

He (Bastyrkin) conveyed to Tuleyev Moscow's wish to announce his voluntary resignation, which he did. In this case, Moscow gave Tuleyev the opportunity to save face as much as possible in a difficult situation. Aman Gumirovich understood everything and did not argue.

Some users of social networks agreed with this opinion, believing that Tuleyev himself was not going to leave the post of governor.

Stanislav Shkel