Deputies of the State Council-Khase of Adygea received from the Russian President a presentation of candidates for the post of head of the republic.

The previous head of the republic, Aslan Tkhakushinov, resigned in January 2017 at the age of 69. Since then, 44-year-old Murat Kumpilov has been acting as Chairman of Parliament.

The list included three - the acting head of Adygea Murat Kumpilov, the chairman of the committee on legislation, legality and local government issues of the State Council of the Republic Alexander Loboda, as well as the general director of ZAREM OJSC Shamsudin Pshizov.

Deputies of the State Council-Khase of Adygea will choose the new head from the candidates presented by the president on a single voting day on September 10.

WHO IS WHO

Murat Kumpilov born on February 27, 1973 in the village of Ulyap. In 1994, he received higher education at the Rostov Institute of National Economy with a degree in Enterprise Economics and Entrepreneurial Activities. After that, he worked as an auditor-controller at the Federal Treasury Department for Adygea in his native region, and in September 1997 he headed the Krasnogvardeisky branch.

Since 1999, he has worked in senior positions in the tax inspectorate, in 2008 he became prime minister of Adygea, in 2016 he was elected as a deputy of the State Council-Khase of the republic, and in October he headed the parliament.

Alexander Loboda born October 8, 1956. Higher education, graduated from Kuban State University in 1987 with a degree in jurisprudence. He was elected as a deputy of the State Council - Khase of the Republic of Adygea of the fifth convocation.

Chairman of the faction of the A Just Russia party, heads the committee on legislation, legality and issues of local self-government. He was awarded the medal “For Impeccable Service”, III degree, and has the honorary title “Honored Lawyer of the Republic of Adygea”.

Shamsudin Pshizov born in 1952. He graduated from the Kharkov Aviation Institute with a degree in aircraft engineering and qualified as a mechanical engineer. From 1992 to 2010 - Chairman of the Board of Directors of CJSC Maikopbank.

Since 2000 - General Director of the Maikop Gear Plant, Chairman of the Business Promotion Association of the Republic of Adygea.

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Aslan Tkhakushinov's replacement as the head of Adygea should be elected by deputies of the local parliament in January next year. The expected bid for this role was made by the Prime Minister of the Republic, Murat Kumpilov, who headed the new convocation of parliament. At the same time, a campaign began to collect signatures in support of an alternative candidate - the head of the Seversky district of the Krasnodar Territory, Adam Dzharim.

Dispersal field

The transfer of Prime Minister of Adygea Murat Kumpilov to the chair of Speaker of the State Council-Khase (regional parliament) can be considered as a forced step towards the long-awaited goal - the post of head of the republic. It was Kumpilov who for a long time was semi-officially considered the successor of the current head of Adygea Aslan Tkhakushinov, to whom he is a close relative.

Tkhakushinov himself, according to KAVPOLIT sources in Adygea, is also not averse to going for a third term in the face of an ever-increasing threat of his family clan losing power. However, next year he turns 70 years old - this is the age limit for the head of the region, which significantly complicates the chances of reappointment.

Aslan Tkhakushinov at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: tvc.ru

Six months ago, in a planned combination with a change of power within one clan, unforeseen circumstances arose. The fact is that after his reappointment to a second term at the head of Adygea at the beginning of 2012, Tkhakushinov several times publicly spoke out in favor of electing the next leader of the republic by direct voting.

But in March of this year, ten months before the end of Tkhakushinov’s term, the parliament of Adygea decided that the next head of the republic would be chosen by deputies, and not by the population. Many observers agreed that the Adygea authorities are counting on a hardware solution to the “2017 problem,” but there were also suggestions that the republic’s parliament could have been pushed to this decision by the federal center.

Personnel changes in the Krasnodar region, where Veniamin Kondratiev replaced Alexander Tkachev in April last year, unexpectedly intensified talk that the next head of Adygea could be a person from outside. First of all, Dzhambulat Khatuov, the former first vice-governor of Kuban, who was considered Tkachev’s right hand, was named as such. Soon after the latter was appointed Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, Khatuov followed his former boss and currently holds the post of his deputy.

Dzhambulat Khatuov. Photo: mcx.ru

What added intrigue to the election of the new head of Adygea, which is due to take place next January, is that he will be elected by a new parliament. Aslan Tkhakushinov had a very difficult relationship with the previous convocations of the State Council-Khase, and in this context, the appearance of Murat Kumpilov in the new role of Speaker of Parliament suggests that for the success of Operation Successor, he needed a more suitable springboard than the post of Prime Minister.

Kumpilov was nominated for the post of Chairman of the State Council-Khase at a conference of the Adyghe regional branch of United Russia with 108 votes out of 119. In the new convocation of the parliament of the republic, United Russia members secured a majority, receiving 58.3% of the votes in the elections on September 18.

Initiative from below

At first glance, Murat Kumpilov can now be considered the new head of Adygea. But, on the other hand, the practice of electing heads of Russian regions according to the parliamentary system is such that any candidate proposed by the federal center can by default count on an overwhelming majority of votes from deputies. Therefore, the final decision on the main candidacy for the future head of Adygea will, in any case, remain with the Kremlin.

Murat Kumpilov. Photo: aif.ru

Objectively, the situation for changing the team in Adygea is long overdue. If Aslan Tkhakushinov’s first term was marked by a number of specific achievements in the economy and attracting investments, then in recent years Adygea has produced various scandalous stories much more often (although, in full accordance with the size of the region, much less resonant than in other republics of the North Caucasus).

The main subject of criticism of Tkhakushinov for his opponents is the high level of clanism: a number of key posts in Adygea are permanently occupied by relatives and friends of the head of the republic. Some initiatives of the leadership of Adygea in developing the economy of the republic were not successful, for example, the construction of a ski resort on the Lagonaki plateau, which faced protest from UNESCO, or the construction of an oil refinery.

In addition, opponents constantly accuse the Adygea authorities of putting pressure on independent social activists. Here we can recall the scandalous criminal case against the head of the Adyghe branch of the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation, Valery Brinich, the closure of a number of opposition publications, etc.

But the Tkhakushinov-Kumpilov tandem now plays into the hands of the fact that after the elections to the State Duma, serious changes are coming in the administration of the President of the Russian Federation. First Deputy Head of the Administration Vyacheslav Volodin, who oversaw domestic policy, is to become speaker of the lower house of parliament, and his intended successor Sergei Kiriyenko hardly has complete information about the political situation in Adygea - one of the smallest subjects of the federation, which very rarely appears on the federal news agenda.

Thus, the question of a new head of Adygea is still open, and in the next three months the main contenders for this post should appear more actively. The first of them can already be considered Adam Dzharim, the head of the Seversky district of the Krasnodar Territory, in whose support an appeal from two thousand voters of the republic was recently sent to President Vladimir Putin.

Adam Jarim. Photo: yuga.ru

“Adam Shakhmetovich managed to create a stable and effective team and achieve outstanding success in the socio-economic development of the Seversky district. He enjoys enormous support from the population,” says a letter from the initiative group available to KAVPOLIT.

Adam Jarim, who will turn 51 the other day, is not a purely external figure for the republic. In 1999-2007, he was elected as a deputy of the assembly of his native Takhtamukaisky district (closest to Krasnodar), in 2007 he was elected as a deputy of the State Council-Khase, and in February 2011 - the head of the Seversky district of the Krasnodar Territory adjacent to Adygea.

Soon after this, Dzharim began to be named among the possible contenders for the post of head of Adygea. At the same time, it was alleged that his candidacy was being lobbied by Alexander Tkachev, who highly valued Dzharim’s work (as head of the Seversky district, he was awarded the medal “For Outstanding Contribution to the Development of Kuban”, second degree).

However, Aslan Tkhakushinov five years ago managed to get reappointed to a second term - not the least role in this was played by the high results shown by United Russia in the State Duma elections at the end of 2011. Adam Dzharim then remained at the head of the Seversky district and was able to retain his post even after Veniamin Kondratyev became the new governor of the Krasnodar Territory last year.

I visited the Seversky district. Its head, Adam Jarim, today presented an annual report on the work to local deputies. pic.twitter.com/nKN5uUJSi6
— Veniamin Kondratyev (@kondratyevvi)

Political scientists agree that Aslan Tkhakushinov is a lame duck

Next year the powers of the current head of the region expire, Tkhakushinov will turn 70 years old, it is unlikely that he will retain the position of head of the republic. In the “Kremlin rating” of governors compiled by the Center for Regional Policy Development, Tkhakushinov headed the first risk group. Experts from the Petersburg Politics Foundation and the Minchenko Consulting holding do not see the rating of the head of Adygea as rosy. According to polls, Aslan Tkhakushinov from last year's "troika" has moved to a "three with a minus". Among its strengths, experts call “maintaining stability in the region at an acceptable level, in comparison with the “Middle Caucasian” level,” as well as the fact that competitors do not show high public activity. In addition, the abolition of direct elections, which the current head of the Republic of Armenia resorted to, makes it easier to lobby for the extension of powers on the sidelines without reference to current ratings.

At the same time, experts note that the downside of canceling direct elections may be the lack of transparency in the decision on the candidacy of the head, including for the current republican authorities.

Let us recall that Tkhakushinov participated in direct elections of the head of the region only once - in 2002, receiving 2.6% of voter support. Then gold miner Khazret Sovmen won by a large margin. Tkhakushinov was elected head of the republic twice by the parliament of Adygea: on the proposal of President Vladimir Putin in December 2006 and by President Dmitry Medvedev in December 2011. And this, you see, is not at all like direct elections!

As Novaya Gazeta Kuban wrote, in March 2016, the State Council - Khase of Adygea refused to directly elect the head. As a result, Adygea has become the only subject of the Southern Federal District where voters will not be able to directly elect the head of the subject.

Chairman of the public organization “For the Right to Choose”, deputy head of “Adyge Khase” of the Krasnodar Territory Asker Sokht told Novaya Gazeta Kuban that, advocating the return of national elections, they managed to collect more than 6 thousand signatures.

“We made a request to the prosecutor’s office of Adygea, the republican Central Election Commission, and the apparatus of the Southern Federal District. The responses confirmed to us that changes to the Constitution of Adygea regarding direct elections are legal. We will challenge it through the Constitutional Court,” commented Asker Sokht.

According to the ex-deputy of the republican parliament, and now a deputy of the Maykop City Municipal District from the Rodina party, chairman of the Union of Slavs of Adygea Nina Konovalova, it is unlikely that Tkhakushinov himself plans to run for a new term:

There are many people who want it, and there is a lot of talk now. Many names are mentioned: Alexander Tkachev’s deputy Dzhambulat Khatuov, General Aitech Bizhev, and Murat Kumpilov. But, of course, Moscow will have the last word, says Nina Konovalova.

Another contender for the position of head of the republic is the head of the Seversky district of the Krasnodar Territory, ex-deputy of the republican parliament Adam Dzharim, who has not ruled out his participation in the election race in the event of direct elections of the head of the republic. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why social activists began to promote the idea of direct elections in the region. According to our information, Asker Sokht is the cousin of Adam Jarim.

According to the editor of the Zakubanye newspaper, Vladimir Karataev, there have long been rumors among the people that former Prime Minister Murat Kumpilov is seeking the position of the new head.

The nephew of the current head has long and persistently been visiting the offices of Moscow officials. And the fact that a new law has been introduced in the republic on the election of the head of the republic by deputies of the State Council from candidates proposed by the President of the country is also his work. Elections to the State Council in September of this year ensured the presence in it of an absolute majority of people loyal to Kumpilov. His election as chairman is further confirmation of this. Among the deputies of parliament there are practically no people in any opposition to the current authorities here. And this is also the result of the active work of the prime minister, who took the branches of most parties under personal control. The goal of the efforts undertaken by the ruling clan is quite clear - to maintain control over the republic at any cost.

Before recommending specific candidates for approval to the State Council of Adygea on behalf of the President, the feds ordered a sociological survey among the residents of the republic. The main questions asked by VTsIOM sociologists in focus groups concerned the effectiveness of the outgoing head of the republic, the well-being of citizens and their attitude towards possible candidates for a new appointment. In particular, they asked people’s opinions about Murat Kumpilov and Dzhambulat Khatuov. If local residents know about Khatuov from information from friends who live in Armavir and generally characterize him well, then most people know Kumpilov’s activities. What are people talking about? About a serious drop in earnings, about corruption, clanism and the total ethnicization of management structures, about the inability or unwillingness of federal law enforcement agencies and courts to positively influence management structures, about the lack of contact between society and the authorities, about the persecution of people who dare to tell the truth, Karataev commented.

If Murat Kumpilov is “courting” the offices of Moscow officials, as Karataev believes, then Dzhambulat Khatuov, according to Novaya Gazeta Kuban, has been “invited” to the Kremlin more than once to discuss this topic. It is possible that Dzhambulat Khizirovich will give an answer in the near future. 2017 will show what it will be like.

Since the 1990s, Adygea has been considered an “easy” constituency: here, in particular, a place for nomination was given to member of the CPSU Central Committee Vitaly Vorotnikov, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR, whom Anatoly Sobchak later mockingly called “Adyghe,” Gazeta.ru reports.

Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the Moscow region, also began his active political career in Adygea. Before becoming a State Duma deputy from Adygea in 2003, he represented the executive power of Adygea in the Federation Council of the Russian Federation.

The latest elections to the State Duma once again confirmed this. Vladislav Reznik, one of the heavyweights of several Duma convocations, who until that time had nothing to do with Adygea, was elected to the State Duma in a single-mandate constituency from Adygea. And this was, most likely, one of the last tasks set before Aslan Tkhakushinov by the federal center.

12/21/2016 12:05 /Society/

Who will lead Adygea in 2017?

Political scientists agree that Aslan Tkhakushinov is a lame duck.

Next year the powers of the current head of the region expire, Tkhakushinov will turn 70 years old, it is unlikely that he will retain the position of head of the republic. In the “Kremlin rating” of governors compiled by the Center for Regional Policy Development, Tkhakushinov headed the first risk group. Experts from the Petersburg Politics Foundation and the Minchenko Consulting holding do not see the rating of the head of Adygea as rosy. According to polls, Aslan Tkhakushinov dropped from last year's "troika" to a "three with a minus". Among its strengths, experts call “maintaining stability in the region at an acceptable level, in comparison with the “Middle Caucasian” level,” as well as the fact that competitors do not show high public activity. In addition, the abolition of direct elections, which the current head of the Republic of Armenia resorted to, makes it easier to lobby for the extension of powers on the sidelines without reference to current ratings.

In March 2016, the State Council - Khase of Adygea refused to directly elect the head. As a result, Adygea has become the only subject of the Southern Federal District where voters will not be able to directly elect the head of the subject.

“There are a lot of people who want it, and there’s a lot of talk now.” Many names are mentioned: Alexander Tkachev’s deputy Dzhambulat Khatuov, General Aitech Bizhev, and Murat Kumpilov. But, of course, Moscow will have the last word, says Nina Konovalova.

According to the editor of the Zakubanye newspaper, Vladimir Karataev, there have long been rumors among the people that former Prime Minister Murat Kumpilov is seeking the position of the new head.

– The nephew of the current head has been persistently visiting the offices of Moscow officials for a long time. And the fact that a new law has been introduced in the republic on the election of the head of the republic by deputies of the State Council from candidates proposed by the President of the country is also his work. Elections to the State Council in September of this year ensured the presence in it of an absolute majority of people loyal to Kumpilov. His election as chairman is further confirmation of this. Among the deputies of parliament there are practically no people in any opposition to the current authorities here. And this is also the result of the active work of the prime minister, who took the branches of most parties under personal control. The goal of the efforts undertaken by the ruling clan is quite clear - to maintain control over the republic at any cost.

– Before recommending specific candidates for approval to the State Council of Adygea on behalf of the President, the feds ordered a sociological survey among the residents of the republic. The main questions asked by VTsIOM sociologists in focus groups concerned the effectiveness of the outgoing head of the republic, the well-being of citizens and their attitude towards possible candidates for a new appointment. In particular, they asked people’s opinions about Murat Kumpilov and Dzhambulat Khatuov. If local residents know about Khatuov from information from friends who live in Armavir and generally characterize him well, then most people know Kumpilov’s activities. What are people talking about? About a serious drop in earnings, about corruption, clanism and the total ethnicization of management structures, about the inability or unwillingness of federal law enforcement agencies and courts to positively influence management structures, about the lack of contact between society and the authorities, about the persecution of people who dare to tell the truth, Karataev commented.

The latest elections to the State Duma once again confirmed this. Vladislav Reznik, one of the heavyweights of several Duma convocations, who until that time had nothing to do with Adygea, was elected to the State Duma in a single-mandate constituency from Adygea. And this was, most likely, one of the last tasks assigned to Aslan Tkhakushinov by the federal center.

I remember how two years ago there was a change of governor in Kuban Alexandra Tkacheva, and how actively this event was discussed by all the media. The change of leadership in Adygea did not cause such a stir. It was quite predictable, and for quite a long time.

Aslan Tkhakushinov, as the head of the region, he began to occupy exclusively last places in all gubernatorial ratings. He was persistently called one of the candidates to leave the ranks of regional heads. This was predicted by all analysts, political scientists, and experts. Saying that Tkhakushinov, firstly, has been leading the region for a very long time, for ten years now, his age is also no longer a political centenarian, that is, he is approaching 70. Well, in terms of other indicators. Neither rapid economic growth nor any striking statements or actions were demonstrated. Although, in comparison with many other regions, in fairness, we note that Adygea was still developing. Over the past ten years, the region's subsidization has been reduced from 61.1% in 2007 to 38.2%, consolidated budget revenues increased to 17 billion rubles in 2015, while own revenues quadrupled. Investment volumes grew, the waiting list for kindergartens was eliminated, and a lot of housing was built.

So the president of the country, when Aslancheriy Kitovich submitted his resignation, accepted it immediately, but thanked Tkhakushinov for his good work.

However, it seems that the head of the republic was not very worried about leaving his post. As you know, thanks to his efforts, Adygea became the only subject of the Southern Federal District where direct elections of the governor are not provided. He will no longer participate in them. He probably can’t forget his last elections, which he won in 2002 Khazret Sovmen, and Aslan Tkhakushinov scored only 2.5%. With this result, after Sovmen’s resignation in 2006, he was appointed head of Adygea and ruled the republic for 10 years. And one can understand why he sought to cancel the elections. I was probably afraid that if I tried them, the result wouldn’t be much better.

Ask why Tkhakushinov, despite all this, was not worried about his place? And why were you afraid to go to the polls, having good results? In both cases, the reason is the same. This is the weakest link in the leadership of Adygea. The media have written more than once that the republic is led not by Tkhakushinov himself, but by an entire family clan from the village of Ulyap, which causes a lot of criticism towards Tkhakushinov, but why, in fact, the ex-head of the republic was not very worried about leaving his post. After all, after he left the first chair of the republic, his family did not go anywhere. And here, as you know, the son of the ex-head of the republic Murat- Prosecutor of the Takhtamukai district, son-in-law Chich Khizir- Head of the Republican Security Council. And so on down the list. Among the relatives are the Chairman of the Supreme Court, ministers, bankers, deputies, and heads of municipalities.

Tkhakushinov himself will not be left without a position and influence either. Already by the decision of the acting head of Adygea, 43-year-old Murata Kumpilova ex-head of the republic Aslan Tkhakushinov will continue to work in executive authorities in the position of honorary adviser.

But only two days have passed since the president of the country Vladimir Putin accepted Tkhakushinov’s resignation and approved the candidacy of Murat Kumpilov for the position of acting head. The latter, we recall, headed the government of Adygea and often replaced the head during his absence.

Moreover, as many media reports, he is not a stranger to Tkhakushinov, but his wife’s nephew. He literally recently headed the local parliament of the State Council - Khase of Adygea, which will approve the candidacy of the head of the republic. True, due to the appointment of the acting governor, the post of chairman had to be left, but as the media write, there was an absolute majority in the State Council supporting Kumpilov.

In general, Kumpilov feels quite confident in his new post. Firstly, the head of state approved his candidacy. And addressing the new leader of the republic, he expressed confidence that there was no need to tell him anything about the region:

“You yourself know everything well, you know the tasks that the republic faces in terms of development, the tasks that people expect to be solved,” Putin said at a meeting with Tkhakushinov and Kumpilov on January 12.

In response, Kumpilov remarked:

— The team has been formed - these are colleagues with whom we have worked for 8-9 years. We know the people, we know the problems, we’ll concentrate and work,” he promised.

Already on January 14, Murat Kumpilov held a large meeting with the public, representatives of executive and legislative authorities at the federal, republican and municipal levels. There, Tkhakushinov said that the president made a wise decision, and Murat Kumpilov, like no one else in the republic, is so familiar and intimate with all the pressing tasks and issues of our further development.

This is actually the answer to the question why no one in Adygea noticed the change of power. The same people remain in leading positions. So, why be surprised?

By the way

At an extraordinary meeting of the State Council-Khase of the Republic of Adygea on Saturday, a new chairman of the republican parliament was elected, he became Vladimir Narozhny, reports the press service of the State Council-Khase of the Republic of Adygea. Narozhny already headed the parliament, which means there are no global changes here either.

Dossier "SP"

Marat Kumpilov was born on February 27, 1973 in the village of Ulyap, Krasnogvardeisky district of the Republic of Adygea. In 1994 he graduated from the Rostov Institute of National Economy with a degree in Economics and Entrepreneurship. Worked in the treasury and tax service. From 2002 to 2008 - Deputy Head of the Interdistrict Internal Revenue Service of the Russian Federation No. 1 for the Republic of Adygea, Head of the Interdistrict Internal Revenue Service No. 1 for the Republic of Adygea.
Since 2008 - Prime Minister of the Republic of Adygea.