On July 19, Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin stated that the deputy ministers in his cabinet will each oversee one of the country’s eight Federal Districts. These subnational macro units are comprised, on average, of a dozen neighboring federal subjects (republics, oblasts, krais, etc.) in the Russian Federation. The decision followed the initial announcement made by President Vladimir Putin in June, during his phone-in press conference; but it appears that the idea originated in and was developed by the government (pravitelstvo) rather than the president of Russia (RBK, July 19). Moscow’s appointees will oversee the development and implementation of investment strategies, national projects, and state programs in the assigned territories, as well as state regulation in the provision of financial assistance to the regions. Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak was appointed to oversee the North Caucasian Federal District (Government.ru, July 19). Heretofore, Novak has specialized on issues related to energy. So his appointment might signify that the Russian government eyes a shift from the development of tourism in the North Caucasus to energy-related projects.
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