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During the meeting, the President informed Mikhail Degtyarev about his decision to appoint him Acting Governor of the Khabarovsk Territory.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, Mr Degtyarev.

Mikhail Degtyarev: Good afternoon, Mr President.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Degtyarev, you are a relatively young man, but you have had good training. You have a good education and extensive experience on the political stage. You are an engineer by education, but you also have many years of experience of successful public work.

Mr Degtyarev, we have a very responsible and important job for you, which the country needs very much. I am referring to a region I would like you to head, the Khabarovsk Territory.

Mr Degtyarev, this means working, in the direct meaning of the word, in the best interests of the people. The Khabarovsk Territory is one of the largest regions in Russia, with huge industrial potential, a unique culture and very talented and active people. Of course, you will have to work to full capacity, making use of all your skills, abilities and talents.

The question is, are you up to this job?

Mikhail Degtyarev: Mr President, I am ready. Thank you for placing your trust in me. I am ready to fly to the Khabarovsk Territory without any delay.

Our agenda includes issues with the sustainable operation of the Khabarovsk Territory’s government, preparations for the heating season, and containing the spread of the coronavirus infection.

I looked through the reference materials and saw that today – even now – available hospital beds do not fully meet the standards. There is a shortage of lung ventilators – more than a hundred pieces of equipment are needed. The Khabarovsk Territory tops the list in the number of new infections and hospitalised patients in the Far Eastern Federal District.

In this regard, if confidence has been placed in me to lead the Khabarovsk Territory, I would like to ask you something – please instruct the Government of the Russian Federation to support the Government of the Khabarovsk Territory through this difficult period, including in matters of adjusting national projects in three areas – economic growth, human capital, and a comfortable environment.

Furthermore, we are now in the phase of drafting the federal and regional budgets for 2021–2023. Allow me to analyse the situation and report to you in a month on the state of affairs in the Khabarovsk Territory.

Vladimir Putin: We will do this; right, this is the way to do it. Of course, you need to take a closer look at things, the economy you will be managing. And formulate your proposals, your requests to the federal centre – me and to the Government of the Russian Federation. We have helped the Khabarovsk people before, helped the Khabarovsk Territory, and we will do so again, in the future, without doubt.

I know there are many problems and they need to be addressed. The heating season, as you said, is moving closer. And you also need to deal with current affairs.

But of course, we need to look to the future, to think long term, remember our strategic plans for the development of this huge and very important region in Russia.

I wish you good luck. I will see you later.

Mikhail Degtyarev: Thank you very much, Mr President.

Vladimir Putin: Good luck!