”Nenets AO will remain independent”
New acting governor of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Igor Fyodorov, underlines that the Northwest Russian region will remain an independent Russian federal subject.
Mr. Fyodorov, until now serving as deputy governor in the Arkhangelsk administration of Ilya Mikhalchuk, in a meeting with the Nenets AO legislative assembly last week highlighted that he will not seek to merge the region with Arkhangelsk Oblast. Igor Fyodorov was appointed acting governor of the region after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last week dismissed Valery Potapenko who had served as governor in the region since 2006. Meanwhile, Arkhangelsk Governor Ilya Mikhalchuk has openly admitted that he wants a merger with the oil-rich Nenets AO, Arnews.ru reports. Although closely intertwined economically and administratively with Arkhangelsk Oblast, the Nenets AO has still managaged to keep its status as federal subject.
