The meaning of the amendments to the Altai constitution will first be explained to the public
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The head of the Altai Republic, Oleg Khorokhordin (United Russia), at the request of the local Public Chamber, withdrew his own amendments to the republican constitution from the regional parliament. Although the changes are of a technical nature, social activists fear that they will give “destructive forces” a reason to aggravate the “national question” and again raise the topic of unification with the neighboring Altai Territory. Mr. Khorokhordin assures that the possibility of merging the entities is nothing more than “empty rumors.”
The amendments, prepared at the initiative of the prosecutor’s office of the republic in order to bring the constitution into conformity with the new federal law on public power in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, were submitted for consideration to the State Assembly (parliament) of the region back in June. They provide for changes to nine articles.
In particular, from two articles the reference to the “integrity” of the territory of the subject is excluded, and in the third, the “principles of integrity” are changed to “principles of unity”. There are also changes to a number of terms (“educational organization” instead of “educational institution”) and the form of some words (“legislature” instead of “legislative bodies,” “compliance” instead of “compliance”). Finally, the head of the region ceases to be called the “guarantor” of the constitution: according to the new wording, he only “ensures” its compliance.
Deputies were supposed to consider the bill at the next session on October 4. However, on Thursday, members of the Republican Public Chamber suggested that Mr. Khorokhordin withdraw the document and send it for public discussion. In their opinion, the project could play into the hands of “destructive forces that are trying to aggravate the national question,” since residents perceive the amendments “as a step towards unification” with the Altai Territory. Attempts by “individuals” to use this topic to “stir up the situation” were called unacceptable by social activists. True, who exactly is doing this was not specified in the chamber.
The head of the region responded immediately and on the same day announced that he was withdrawing the document. “Social activists rightly point out that individuals have begun to use the topic of amendments to aggravate the national issue and even question the status of the Altai Republic,” he wrote on Telegram. “Some of them deliberately mislead people, substitute concepts, disseminate information that does not correspond to reality ” Mr. Khorokhordin also did not say who exactly he was talking about, but assured that “any information about a possible unification of the regions is empty rumors” that have no basis.
Interestingly, the issue of merger was recently raised in the neighboring region. During the campaign for the election of governor of the Altai Territory, LDPR candidate Sergei Bulaev said that he would seek to unite the regions and recreate the region within the borders of the USSR. “If it weren’t for Yeltsin’s parade of sovereignties, our region would be united, there would be no two Altai. What did we get as a result? The republic’s bloated bureaucracy is supported by subsidies from the federal budget. Nothing more,” he wrote then in his Telegram, timed to coincide with the publication on the Day of Education of the Altai Republic (July 3).
The United Russia faction in the State Assembly supported Oleg Khorokhordin’s decision to withdraw the amendments, its leader Vladislav Ryabchenko told Kommersant. “At this stage, the absolutely right decision has been made,” he assured. And his parliamentary colleague, First Secretary of the Republican Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Viktor Romashkin, told Kommersant that he did not understand why they were introduced at all.
Let us recall that last year a similar situation arose in Dagestan, where similar amendments to the constitution of the republic, bringing it into line with the updated federal legislation, caused a strong reaction among many social activists. The authorities had to make a lot of efforts to convince fellow countrymen that the changes do not threaten the territorial integrity of the subject.
According to political scientist Konstantin Lukin, Mr. Khorokhordin can use the theme of “independence” of the republic in his election campaign (his powers expire in September 2024): “If the authorities drag this out (discussion of amendments to the constitution.— “Kommersant”) for several months, with explanations and access to the residents, then this will be a very good move.” And political scientist Ilya Grashchenkov does not rule out that if the authorities fail to explain the meaning of the amendments, their consideration may be postponed for a year.
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