During his trip to the Astrakhan Region, Vladimir Putin launched, via videoconference, commercial operation at the Vladimir Filanovsky oil field off the Caspian Sea shelf.

Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Astrakhan Region Governor Alexander Zhilkin. The focus was on the socioeconomic situation in the region, in particular, the implementation of import substitution programmes and support for industrial production.

The Astrakhan Region Governor briefed the President on the social and economic situation in the region.

Aide to the President Igor Levitin chaired a meeting of the working group to monitor the execution of the resolutions of the State Council and its Presidium On the Implementation of the List of Instructions from the President of the Russian Federation of May 1, 2014 On the Stable Development of Rural Areas in the Russian Federation.

Aide to the President, Chairman of the Commission for the Development of General Aviation Igor Levitin held a meeting on the implementation in the Southern Federal District of recommendations regarding the development of general aviation issued by the Transport Ministry and approved by the Commission for the Development of General Aviation.

Mr Zhilkin briefed the President on the socioeconomic situation in the region and plans to establish a free industrial and economic zone.

Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting of the Commission for Strategic Development of the Fuel and Energy Sector and Environmental Security.

Vladimir Putin met with Governor of Astrakhan Region Alexander Zhilkin. The Governor briefed the President on the region’s socioeconomic situation.

Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu briefed Dmitry Medvedev on emergency measures being taken following the collapse of a residential building in Astrakhan.

Dmitry Medvedev and President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev took part in the VIII Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum. The main item on the agenda is the organisation of the two countries’ joint efforts in cross-border emergency situations.

Before the VIII Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum, Dmitry Medvedev and Nursultan Nazarbayev reviewed bilateral cooperation issues and the future development of the Customs Union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The main subjects on the agenda at the meeting, chaired by the President, included issues of resolving environmental issues in the Volga River basin, preserving the river’s fauna and developing its fisheries, combating poaching, restoring the water system in the river’s delta, water resources protection efforts, and overhaul of hydro-technical installations.

During a trip to Astrakhan Region, Dmitry Medvedev visited an inspection station of the Federal Agency for Fishery.

The President and the Prime Minister sailed motorboats on the Volga, went fishing, and took a look at the river’s underwater life too, using a special camera to take underwater photos.

In accordance with the Federal Law On the Police Force, the President issued executive order on appointments to senior Interior Ministry posts.

Aftereffects of the drought and environmental supervision in the Volga River delta were the subjects of discussion.