Mr Shtyrov asked to be allowed to step down from his post of president of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and his resignation was accepted.

Mr Shoigu reported that the waters in Yakutia are subsiding and that all necessary assistance is being offered to those affected by the flood.

The social and economic situation in the region, in particular employment and wage payment issues, was the subject of discussion.

The meeting examined the situation in the North Caucasus.

The main subject of discussion was the progress achieved in implementing projects in the field of telecommunications and information technologies, in particular the development in Russia of digital broadcasting, the provision of high-speed broadband Internet access, and the development of telemedicine.

The President was briefed on the ongoing investigations of the terrorist attacks in the Moscow metro and the explosions at the Raspadskaya Mine in the Kemerovo Region.

Dmitry Medvedev held a working meeting via videoconference with Governor of Pskov Region Andrei Turchak.

The President was presented with a list of candidates for the posts of governor in the Orenburg and Rostov Regions.

Progress in constructing facilities for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi was the subject of discussion.