The acting governor of the Vologda region began working remotely

Acting Governor of the Vologda Region Georgy Filimonov, appointed to his post on October 31, got involved in the work even before arriving in the region. In his Telegram channel (more than 37,000 subscribers), which the official maintained while still deputy chairman of the Moscow region government, he announced a change in the section of the heating main in Vologda. “Deputy Governor Anton Strizhov and I kept the issue under control so that the specialists completed everything on time without lowering the temperature in the apartments. He’s great. Welding work has already been completed,” Filimonov wrote. He noted that the problem with leaks and boiler rooms requires special attention – “a lot of signals come from this direction.”

Acting Deputy Minister for Information Policy of the Vologda Region Ekaterina Demyanchuk told Vedomosti that Filimonov has not yet arrived in Vologda. “Tomorrow [3 ноября] performance [региональным органам власти] and arrival,” she clarified. The acting governor himself explained in the Telegram channel that “circumstances require immediate involvement in work.” “This is the proactive problem-solving mode that we are used to,” he explained, promising to “keep us posted.”

Filimonov told Vedomosti that he is in operational contact with his deputies: “Information is already coming in about problems with leaks and boiler rooms, and we are now dealing with a power outage in Gryazovets. We are keeping these issues under control.” According to him, the development of a new program for the socio-economic development of the Vologda region continues. “We are also talking about the development of the agro-industrial complex, the creation of new food production, the creation of a comfortable cultural environment for young people, the construction of new sports facilities, and the development of hotel complexes. It is important to create new points of growth in the region’s economy and develop potential in all areas,” explained the acting governor.

In particular, according to him, a large-scale investment project is planned in a specially protected natural area – the Russian North National Park. “We are discussing the implementation of the “Parks in the Forest” program, the organization of eco-trails and eco-routes. One of our priorities is creating a comfortable environment for young people, including sports facilities. Now we are looking into the issue of building a new theater for young people in Cherepovets,” Filimonov said. He promised to apply “the best practices developed in the Moscow region” in the Vologda region.

The new acting governor of the Vologda region is known for his penchant for PR and constant public activity, including those not related to the regions in which he worked before or is currently working, says political scientist Rostislav Turovsky. “It is not surprising that Filimonov, even before the official presentation, began to demonstrate attention to such sensitive topics as housing and communal services in the Vologda region,” he noted. According to the expert, “it will be constantly emphasized that Filimonov personally delves into all issues and keeps them under control.” “With this approach, it is also important that PR is professional, effective and perceived in society. And this requires carefully thought-out work in public space,” Turovsky added.

Georgy Filimonov was appointed acting governor of the Vologda region on October 31. He replaced Oleg Kuvshinnikov, who had held his post since 2011. Filimonov was born in 1980 in Tomsk, but spent his childhood and youth in Cherepovets. He is a political scientist by training: in 2003 he graduated from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the RUDN University with a degree in international relations. In 2007, he defended his doctoral dissertation on the topic “US Foreign Cultural Policy as a Component of Soft Power,” and in 2013 he defended his doctoral dissertation at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Worked in the administration of the President of the Russian Federation, deputy general director of OJSCAgreement“, headed the Institute of Strategic Studies and Forecasts of the RUDN University. He has worked in the government of the Moscow region since November 2021.