The head of Kuzbass, Aman Tuleyev, who has headed the region since 1997, wrote a letter of resignation of his own free will. This happened after a fire in the Winter Cherry shopping and entertainment center in Kemerovo, which claimed the lives of 64 people. Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted the early resignation of Aman Tuleyev and appointed Vice-Governor Sergei Tsivilev as acting head of the region.

The governor of the Kemerovo region, Aman Tuleyev, submitted his resignation. Kommersant was informed about this by the press service of the administration of the Kemerovo region. “Exactly. The governor of the Kemerovo region, Aman Tuleyev, addressed President Vladimir Putin with a statement of resignation of his own free will,” Alexey Dorongov, head of the main department for work with media of the regional administration, told Kommersant. In his address to local residents, Aman Tuleyev said that this was due to a fire that occurred in the Winter Cherry shopping center in Kemerovo. Vladimir Putin accepted the resignation of Mr. Tuleyev, acting. Vice-Governor Sergei Tsivilev was appointed head of Kuzbass. The President also called Aman Tuleyev to thank him for his many years of work as governor of the Kemerovo region.

“Each of us has already passed this through our hearts, through ourselves, this horror, the pain of this catastrophe. Well, all of Russia and the whole world mourns with us. Dear Kuzbass residents, I did everything I could. Met with the families of the victims and tried to resolve issues regarding assistance. Once again I offer my deepest condolences, but we must move on with our lives. Live to cherish the memories of those we have lost. Russian law enforcement agencies are investigating the cause of the fire. Dear fellow countrymen, together with you we have gone through a great, very great life path. From Kuzbass striking, sitting on the rails, banging helmets, hunger strikes, strikes... To Kuzbass creating and supporting our state. And you did all this, you, and I am immensely grateful to you. Quite honestly, like an icon, I can tell you that in my work I have always been guided by the interests of our country, Russia, and our region. Thank you all again for always being there, in sorrow and joy. And take a bow (bowed to the table, sitting at the table in his office. - “Kommersant”). Today, now, I want to tell you, I submitted my resignation to the President of the Russian Federation. I consider it the right, conscious, and only right decision for myself. Because it’s morally impossible to work with such a heavy load as governor. Peace and goodness to you and your families! May God protect each of you and our native Kuzbass land,” said Aman Tuleyev.

Let us remind you that on March 25, a strong fire occurred in the Kemerovo shopping center “Winter Cherry,” which killed 64 people, including 41 children. Seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the fire. The court took into custody the manager of the shopping center, Nadezhda Suddenok, technical director center Georgy Sobolev, security guard Sergei Antyushin, as well as two employees of the company involved in servicing the fire protection system, Igor Polozinenko and Alexander Nikitin, general director of Kemerovo Confectionery Plant LLC (the company that owned the burnt shopping and entertainment center "Winter Cherry") Yulia Bogdanova, former Head of the State Construction Supervision Inspectorate of the Kemerovo Region Tanzilia Komkova.

Aman Tuleyev did not come to the scene of the tragedy. Meanwhile, at a meeting held on March 27 in Kemerovo under the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the head of the region asked for forgiveness from the head of state: “I apologize to you personally for what happened on our territory.” Shortly before the start of the meeting, a spontaneous rally began in Kemerovo, which lasted more than 10 hours. People demanded the resignation of the city and regional leadership. “Aman Tuleyev has long lost his authority. The people are asking - leave. Let's resign! - the crowd shouted and chanted “Come on, leave!”

The Kemerovo branch of Yabloko also demanded the resignation of the head of the region and the mayor of the city, Ilya Seredyuk. “We believe that in addition to the owners of the building, the control and inspection services that allowed the building of the Winter Cherry shopping and entertainment center to be used, each bearing their share of responsibility for the death of adults and children, responsibility for this tragedy also lies with authorities of Kemerovo and the Kemerovo region,” says a statement from the party’s regional council. The appeal was sent to the presidential administration, the presidential mission in the Siberian Federal District, as well as to the State Duma and the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation. The head of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Gennady Zyuganov said that the tragedy in Kemerovo is a consequence of the incompetence and corruption of the authorities. “We insist on the creation of a parliamentary commission to investigate the circumstances of this disaster and develop effective measures to prevent such events,” according to the party’s website.

73-year-old Aman Tuleyev has headed the Kemerovo region since October 1997. In September 2015, he was again elected head of Kuzbass, gaining 96.69% of the votes. In 2017, the governor went on a long vacation (more than 1.5 months) due to health problems - he underwent spinal surgery in a clinic in Germany, and then postoperative rehabilitation began. Against the backdrop of this information, the possibility of Mr. Tuleyev’s resignation due to his state of health was actively discussed in the Kemerovo region. Last summer, the regional administration issued a statement that the head of the region, Aman Tuleyev, intends to fulfill his duties until the end of his term in 2020. A new wave of speculation about the resignation of Aman Tuleyev appeared in March of this year after the appointment of the general director of the Kolmar coal company Sergei Tsivilev to the post of vice-governor of Kuzbass, whom many considered the most likely successor to the current governor.

Aman Tuleyev nominated his candidacy for presidential elections three times. According to the Civil Society Development Foundation, from 2013 to 2014, Mr. Tuleyev was one of the ten most successful governors of Russia.

Oksana Pavlova, Ilya Galaguz, Novosibirsk; Yulia Matyushchenko, Kemerovo

• Music: Путин отправил в отставку губернатора Кемеровской области Амана Тулеева

Aman Tuleyev announced his resignation

The governor of the Kemerovo region, Aman Tuleyev, who has headed the region since 1997, resigned. He recorded a video message in which he linked his decision to the fire in the Winter Cherry shopping center, which killed 64 people.

“Dear Kuzbass residents, I did everything I could. I met with the families of the victims, tried to resolve issues of providing assistance. Once again, I offer my deepest condolences,” Tuleyev said.

"I gave the president Russian Federation resignation letter. I consider it the right, conscious and only correct decision for myself. Because it’s impossible to work as a governor with such a heavy load. Morally it is impossible. Peace and goodness to you. And to your families. May the Lord protect each of you and our native Kuznetsk land,” added Tuleyev.

The day before, Znak.com reported about Tuleyev’s possible resignation on April 1. According to a source of an online publication close to the administration of the Kemerovo region, Tuleyev’s resignation will be of a “mild nature” (the governor himself will address residents of the region). RBC previously reported that there are no plans for a “demonstrative resignation” of Tuleyev. On the website regional administration it is said that the governor resigned “of his own free will.”

Among the victims of the fire at Winter Cherry are about 40 children, including an 11-year-old relative of Tuleyev. The 73-year-old governor never appeared at the scene of the fire, and he also ignored the local residents who came out to a rally on March 27, at a meeting with President Tuleyev, their “troublemakers.” This meeting lasted more than 11 hours; in particular, the vice-governor of the region Sergei Tsivilev, who is called a possible successor to Tuleyev, spoke with its participants.

At a meeting with Putin on March 27, Tuleyev apologized for the tragedy to him, but not to the residents of the region: “Vladimir Vladimirovich, you personally called me. Once again, thank you very much. I apologize to you personally for what happened on our territory.” An apology to the Kuzbass residents appeared later.

Aman Tuleyev is 73 years old and entered politics in the late 1980s. He headed the Kemerovo region in 1997 and was re-elected head of the region four times with a result of 93.5-96.69% of the votes. His powers for the next gubernatorial term expired in 2020.

During Aman Tuleyev’s work as governor of Kuzbass, rumors repeatedly appeared about his health problems and his upcoming resignation. In particular, on May 22, 2017, he went on official leave, which was later extended due to an operation prescribed to him due to a problem with intervertebral discs back in the fall of 2016. Against this background, reports appeared in the media that Tuleyev would leave his post, but the information was not confirmed, and on August 12 he returned to work.

According to the Charter of the Kemerovo Region, the first deputy governor will act as head of the region.

April 1, 2018 Governor of the Kemerovo region Aman Tuleyev resigned. And the Russian President accepted it. We tell you what is happening.

Aman Tuleyev was not joking? Did he really resign?

Yes, this is not an April Fool's joke. Aman Tuleyev really resigned. Tuleyev himself announced this on April 1, 2018. And the President of Russia has already accepted his resignation Vladimir Putin. Information about this is posted on the official Kremlin website.

“In connection with the statement of the Governor of the Kemerovo Region A.G. Tuleyev about the early termination of powers ... I decide: to accept the resignation of the Governor of the Kemerovo Region A.G. Tuleyev at his own request,” says the published order of the President. The order came into force from the date of its signing.

Why did Tuleyev resign?

As Tuleyev himself explained in his video message to residents of the region, his decision is related to the tragedy in the Winter Cherry shopping center, which occurred on March 25, and this is “the correct, conscious, and only correct decision.” “Because it’s impossible, morally impossible, to work with such a heavy load as governor,” said the governor of Kuzbass. Aman Tuleyev recalled that 64 people died in this fire, most of them children.

“We lost 64 people and most of them were children. Our children. Each of us missed all this through our hearts, all this horror, the pain of this catastrophe... The whole of Russia and the whole world mourn with us.”

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We think not. Recently, 73-year-old Aman Tuleyev has had serious health problems. He underwent heart surgery. Even during Putin’s visit to Kemerovo after the fire, when the president announced a minute of silence, Tuleyev was able to get to his feet only with the help of plenipotentiary Sergei Menyailo.

Rumors about Tuleyev's resignation have been circulating for about a year. And after Tsivilev was sent to Kuzbass, these rumors became very persistent. Even then they started talking that he would be the one to replace Tuleyev.

Who will act as governor of the Kemerovo region?

According to the decree of the President of the Russian Federation, the acting governor of the Kemerovo region will be appointed Sergey Tsivilev, who received the post of Deputy Governor of the Kemerovo Region for Industry, Transport and Consumer Market in early March 2018. Before this, Tsivilev was the general director of the Kolmar coal company (mining coal in the south of Yakutia) and owned 100% of the shares of ANTE Holding and Danrit. After taking office as vice-governor, Tsivilev transferred shares of the company to his wife.

“I want to assure all of you, every resident of the Kemerovo region, that I am implementing all initiatives and decisions for the development of the region. And you and I will determine what, first of all, what needs to be done in the long term for the future of Kuzbass,” Tsivilev said in his address to the residents of the region.

But the governor of the Kemerovo region will still be elected by the residents of Kuzbass. It is not yet known when the elections will take place.

How will Tuleyev’s resignation affect Kuzbass?

The question about this remains open. Experts say that after Tuleyev’s departure, a so-called redistribution of property among local elites fighting for influence is possible. From this point of view, Sergei Tsivilev is a convenient option, since he is a “Varangian” and does not support any of the warring local parties, which means the conflict will not flare up.

In addition, before Tsivilev’s appointment to the position of vice-governor, the President of the Russian Federation met with him, and this indicates very serious support from the federal center.

If we look at the situation solely from the point of view of the fire in Winter Cherry, then, unfortunately, this shopping center is not the only one in which fire safety rules were grossly and even cynically violated. And this situation will be affected not by Tuleyev’s resignation, but by the targeted and tough policy of the authorities and supervisory authorities throughout the country.

Irina Alksnis, for RIA Novosti

The resignation of Aman Tuleyev from the post of governor made us remember those rather long ago times when any changes in the leadership Russian regions were akin to tectonic movements in political system the whole country.

Many governors and presidents who took office in the 1990s were at that time political heavyweights not only at their own regional level, but also at the federal level. But even in those days, few could compete on equal terms with the Kemerovo governor, who not only successfully led a very complex and important region, but was also a truly influential federal politician.
Those days are long gone.

Governors in Russia have long ceased to be untouchable political figures, and there are now a minimal number of iconic federal figures among them. Rotation in their ranks has become an ordinary process and is of interest - in addition to the actual citizens in these regions - mainly to the Russian managerial class and a small circle of experts in this field. And criminal cases against former and current regional heads are now being initiated in batches.

Changes in the Russian political system have fully affected Aman Tuleyev, who has long since become simply one of many dozens of Russian governors who stand out among their colleagues only for their political longevity and special respect for him from their colleagues and the federal center.

But, ironically, the circumstances of his departure from the post of Kemerovo governor are such that they make us remember the old times, when any gubernatorial resignation caused heated discussions and numerous assumptions among the widest audience.

There is little doubt that if Aman Gumirovich had the opportunity to turn back time, he would prefer a quiet and boring retirement, like most of his colleagues from the 1990s. But you can’t rewind history, and the end of the career of the Kemerovo governor is now forever associated with a terrible fire in which dozens of people died.

Although you can look at this situation from the other side.

Aman Tuleyev became the first case in history modern Russia, when the head of the region (albeit not immediately) took responsibility for the tragedy that occurred on his territory and left his post in connection with this.

As you know, just a couple of days ago the Kremlin emphasized the topic of the resignation of the Kemerovo governor, refusing to comment on this issue. At the same time, statements Russian President During the trip to Kemerovo, there was no doubt that this time the “switchmen” would not be punished and all those responsible for what happened would get their due, regardless of their status and past merits.

However, despite this, Tuleyev's resignation came as a surprise to many: most observers were inclined to believe that although his resignation was inevitable, there would be a pause of several months before it was announced.

© Ruptly

It is worth paying tribute to one of the veterans of Russian politics, who with his current step actually laid new tradition Russian state-political system. And Vladimir Putin’s phone call after accepting his request for early resignation with gratitude for his work makes sense to be considered in this context.

The ability of a high-level manager to take personal responsibility deserves respect in any case. And especially in a situation where he is a “pioneer” in this traditionally difficult area for Russia.

Another thing is that Aman Tuleyev has become a very clear example for the Russian system in another sense. The Kemerovo authorities were harshly criticized not only for the tragedy that occurred, but also for serious shortcomings in the reaction to it, in particular for problems in communication with shocked residents of the region.

The State Duma named the tasks facing the acting head of KuzbassSergei Tsivilev will have to preserve and increase all the achievements of the regional authorities. Aman Tuleyev managed to achieve a lot as governor, said deputy Sergei Neverov.

Here, of course, a logical question arises: would these tensions arise between the authorities and Kemerovo residents if Tuleyev was still full of strength, energy and talent to talk with people for whom he was so well known throughout Russia twenty years ago?
This reminds the leaders of the Russian state-political system of the lesson of the disastrous consequences of the Soviet gerontocracy.
However, considering how intense recent years a new generation of managers is being prepared and put into operation, at the very top Russian state this is obviously well understood.