President wants regions to merge after referendums

During a visit to the far eastern region of Chukotka this week, Mr. Medvedev said that “if a region does not want to merge [with another] – and this can only be decided in a referendum – then it will continue to function as before”, . -This is the firm position of federal authorities, including my self, he added. –We will not merge anyone with anyone – we do not ourselves promote such ideas, the president maintained. Over the last years, federal authorities have encouraged Russian regions, and first of all the autonomous okrugs, to merger with bigger neighbouring subjects. In Northwest Russia, debates have been running high over the possible merger of Nenets Autonomous Okrug with Arkhangelsk Oblast. After pressure from both Arkhangelsk and federal authorities, the Nenets AO has been forced to give away a major part of its regional self-government to the neighbouring Arkhangelsk administration. Debates have also been running about the possible merger of Sankt Petersburg with Leningrad Oblast.