Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported to Moscow City Duma deputies

On Wednesday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported for the last time to deputies of the Moscow City Duma (MGD) of the seventh convocation, whose powers expire in 2024. The mayor, as usual, spoke via video link (this form of communication with parliament has been practiced since the beginning of the pandemic), however, unlike previous years, he did not answer questions from parliamentarians. At the same time, his performance was broadcast on television for the first time.

Opening the last meeting of the Moscow City Duma this year, held via video conference, its speaker Alexei Shaposhnikov recalled that according to the capital’s charter, the mayor annually submits to the city parliament a report on the activities of the Moscow government, “including on issues raised by the Moscow City Duma.” These questions were prepared and sent to Mr. Sobyanin on December 18, he clarified.

“The Moscow government’s report should be presented for the past year,” said the mayor, appearing on the screen, “but it would be more correct to talk about what we have experienced in recent years, what trials we have gone through.”

We are talking, according to him, about two years of the pandemic, as well as two years of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and “economic blockade by the countries of the NATO bloc.” “And all this time, led by the president, we have been at the forefront of this fight,” said Sergei Sobyanin.

The Moscow government not only improved the healthcare system and helped the army, but also implemented ambitious programs that seemed impossible under these conditions, he continued, listing the main topics of his speech: “What has been done? How has our city changed? What are your plans for the future?” Separately, Mr. Sobyanin emphasized that he “will try to answer the most important questions received from the City Duma.”

Next, the mayor of Moscow spoke about the development of the capital’s industry, which began after the “Crimean Spring” and the realization of “where the wind is blowing and where things are going.” The Moscow authorities did not wait “until they take us by the throat” with the help of sanctions, and launched several programs. Thanks to these efforts, it was possible to “essentially revive the pharmaceutical industry” in Moscow, as well as restore the production of Moskvich.

Over five years, the volume of investment in manufacturing in Moscow has doubled, Mr. Sobyanin noted.

Speaking about urban space, he announced the upcoming implementation of 190 projects for the reorganization of inefficiently used territories and the development of industrial zones. At the peak of the renovation program, about 80 thousand Muscovites per year will be resettled from dilapidated housing, Sergei Sobyanin promised. Touching upon infrastructure issues, he recalled the opening of two new surface metro diameters in 2023, and also announced the extension of its routes to Tver, Kaluga, Tula and other cities of the Central Federal District.

In the report, the mayor paid much attention to the capital’s healthcare system: the reconstruction of more than 300 medical buildings and the renovation of over half of the clinics. Mr. Sobyanin promised to complete the rest within two to three years. “There has never been such a scale and speed of change in the history of our city, and indeed the entire country,” he boasted. Most schools also need serious reconstruction, the mayor stated, and this issue cannot be postponed indefinitely: next year the government will begin reconstruction of the first 50 institutions, and then plans to reach 100 annually. Sergei Sobyanin concluded his speech with information about the development of information technologies, including artificial intelligence, the improvement of parks and the reconstruction of theaters.

“Moscow will continue to be one of the world leaders – for the benefit of the country, for the benefit of the city, for the benefit of Muscovites,” summed up Sergei Sobyanin. “You and I are one big team, and victory will be ours.” After this, the broadcast ended. Alexey Shaposhnikov proposed to take the mayor’s report into account and put this issue to a vote. 28 deputies voted for, 11 against.

The Yabloko members and communists, as well as non-factional deputies Dmitry Loktev, Elena Shuvalova and Elena Yanchuk, did not support the report.

Communist Pavel Tarasov strongly objected to the format, which did not involve answering questions.

Let us recall that in previous years, after the report, Sergei Sobyanin traditionally answered three questions from each of the factions of the Moscow City Duma. This time there was no communication with parliamentarians. As Alexey Shaposhnikov later explained, this year the performance was broadcast for the first time on the TV channels TVC and Moscow 24. “In fact, this was a report not only and not so much to the Moscow City Duma. The mayor spoke to all Muscovites,” added Vice Speaker Inna Svyatenko.

Andrey Prah