Federalism and Local Politics in Russia

Business elites in regional politics 199from Moscow, appointed an experienced local politician, Krasnov as DeputyGovernor. Krasnov had previously been second in command under the previousGovernor, Platov.However, the majority of deputy governors have been brought in from theoutside. Such appointments may offend local elites but there is generalagreement that a governor should have carte blanche in forming his ownteam. In the long run, the most important assessment criterion is the competenceof the new appointees. When Abramovich was elected governor ofChukotka, a new team was formed whose core consisted of Muscovites.Gorodilov, former vice-president of Sibneft, born in Noyabrsk, an oil producingtown in Yamalo-Nenets AO, where Sibneft had most of its oil producingassets, became Abramovich’s first deputy. He played a crucial rolewhen the Governor was on one of his frequent trips outside the region. 16 Ateam comprised predominantly of Muscovites was formed by Tver GovernorZelenin, who, like Abramovich, has no local roots. Zelenin’s first deputyBershadskii used to work in the same business structures as Zelenin. 17When Khloponin came to power in Krasnoyarsk Krai, a large group ofofficials from Norilsk were given posts in the regional administration. Thekey positions are held by First Deputy Governor Kuznetsov, who used to beKhloponin’s first deputy at Norilsk Nikel and in Taymyr AutonomousOkrug. Among those with a Norilsk origin are Sokol (chief of staff, formerdirector of Norilskgazprom 18 ), Gnezdilov (oversees natural resources andforestry; formerly employed by Norilskgazprom), Bobrov (industrial policy,former manager at Norilsk Nikel), Novak (in charge of finance; worked atNorilsk Nikel and in Norilsk city administration). Overall, Khloponin’sadministration consists of micro-groups of various origins, primarily fromNorilsk and Krasnoyarsk City (those who used to work in Krasnoyarsk CityAdministration 19 ), as well as those from various towns and rural areas ofKrasnoyarsk Krai and officials working under the previous administration(for example, Kuzubov mentioned above). Such an administration is anexample of a relatively balanced approach to team formation, when officialsare recruited from various influential groups, whose members previouslyworked with the governor or were part of a newly formed alliance.While analysing the composition of new regional administrations, oneshould take into account the vast differences in the previous status of newgovernors in the business elite. Arguably, only Khloponin and Abramovichrepresented really large financial-industrial groups (FIG) with their ownrecruitment reserve. In the rest of the cases, incoming governors formed theirteams from their former subordinates and personal acquaintances who oftenhad no experience of public service. Often a governor’s own business becamethe recruitment ground; for example Roliz in Primorskiy Krai, and theSnezhka poultry factory in Bryansk Oblast. In Irkutsk Oblast many officialsare originally from Chelyabinsk Oblast, i.e. the native region of GovernorTishanin. For example, Paranichev (who had previously worked inChelyabinsk City Administration), was appointed First Deputy Governor.