Regional Dimension of Shiyes More Critical than Ecological One, ‘Nezavisimaya Gazeta’ Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, July 9 – There are two dimensions of the protest in Arkhangelsk Oblast about Moscow’s plans to create a dump for trash from the capital, an ecological one and a regional political one, the editors of Nezavisimaya gazeta say in a lead article today; and the latter may prove to be even more important than the former.

            Like Russians everywhere, the residents of Arkhangelsk Oblast are ever more concerned about environmental issues, the paper says.  It is no longer enough for someone to have a good job or a roof over his head; “he wants a healthy environment for himself and his children and thus opposes the opening of dumps” (ng.ru/editorial/2019-07-08/2_7617_red.html).

            The powers that be have taken note of this, the paper continues. Vladimir Putin has talked about it; and Moscow has worked to ensure that discussions about it “proceed primarily on the level of ‘the citizen and the state,’ without the involvement of intermediate structures like environmentally active politicians.”

            Up to now, that Kremlin strategy has worked, especially as “there is no powerful environmental movement among the opposition.” And by making occasional concessions and sounding some of the right notes in speeches, the authorities are working to keep things just as they are.

            “The other dimension of the protests,” Nezavisimaya gazeta says, “is regional,” the result of fundamental defects in the current organization of power in Russia. “Citizens do not simply think that trash dumps worsen their lives. They see how governors set their priorities,” that the opinions of the citizens aren’t nearly as important for these officials as the position of Moscow.

            And as the situation has evolved in Arkhangelsk and residents have drawn that conclusion, the people have turned on the current governor and reduced his ability to function. “This is a most important lesson for the federal powers that be.” If governors are to be effective and elected, they must listen to the population or at least appear to do so.

            In the power vertical, the editors argue, “the function of the head of a region is to guarantee the interrelationship between the state and local elites and society. The Arkhangelsk governor obviously has not been up to doing so.” As a result, he has become a liability to the center.

            “If the head of a region is oriented not toward local elites and society but to the Kremlin, any outsider can see this. He will not achieve high levels of trust and any problem that arises will be one that the residents will try to resolve over his head by immediately getting in touch with the Center, even by means of ‘Direct Dialogue.’”

            “This will not strengthen but rather shake the entire power vertical” forcing the Kremlin to intervene ever more often directly, something that will not only exhaust its capabilities but mean that the anger now being focused on governors will shift to those above them, something the Kremlin certainly doesn’t want.