Meeting with Kursk Region Governor Alexander Khinshtein

At the beginning of the meeting, Alexander Khinshtein Khinshtein AlexanderGovernor of Kursk Region noted that the situation in the region is not simple but is improving.

The Governor began his report on the work underway in the region and the issues that need to be given attention and call for federal support by saying that much is being done to accomplish the main task set by the President, that is, to ensure a direct feedback from the people and transparent governance. In particular, a coordination council has been established to settle housing problems in the border areas. Preparations have begun to rebuild houses, with the key task being to clear the territory of mines, which involves the creation of an unprecedentedly large demining group. It comprises engineer troops, the Russian National Guard, the Emergencies Ministry and the engineer units of the armed forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

By now, 92 settlements have been cleared of mines and explosive device. Overall, nearly 2.7 million explosive objects have been defused. Alexander Khinshtein emphasised that full-scale restoration is impossible without completing this work first. The video and photo materials of the Defence Ministry are being used to assess the level of household destruction in the border areas which assessment commissions cannot reach for security reasons.

Replying to the President's question about the priorities of economic revival, Alexander Khinshtein pointed out that the Government of Russia has adopted a programme for the reconstruction and development of border regions, and that it is not only important to rebuild what the enemy has destroyed but also to create conditions and competitive advantages for the region's socioeconomic development. The Governor has asked the President to support the region's joint work with the Government to adopt relevant decisions, in particular, on the possible creation of a free economic zone in three districts, which already have a sufficient number of potential investors. He also highlighted the importance of supporting agriculture and farms that have been damaged by the enemy, because the Kursk Region is an agricultural region and so the development of its agro-industrial complex should be given priority attention.

Special attention has been given at the meeting to the region's efforts to protect historical memory. Alexander Khinshtein recalled that the Kursk Region is unique in this sense. It has been Russia's outpost throughout its history, as the current developments have reaffirmed. One of the goals and tasks in this sphere is to perpetuate the memory of fallen heroes. New monuments and memorials will be erected in the region, including a combined memorial for the victims of the 20^th century Nazism and the 21^st century neo-Nazism. There are cemeteries where victims of the Nazis killed during the Great Patriotic War lie side by side with the civilian population killed by modern-day Nazism.

To be continued.