Moscow's leader, Sobianin, unveils adjustments within the city administration
Fresh Take:
Hey there! Moscow's bustling political landscape has seen a shakeup, as announced by none other than Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on his beloved Telegram channel.
First up, Maxim Gamarnik, once the head honcho at the Moscow Department of City Property, has been snatched up and handed the reins at Russia's largest engineering powerhouse, AO "Mosinzhproekt". Sobyanin believes this strategic move will bolster the team leading construction projects – crucial ones, mind you, like those under the comprehensive territory development program (KTR). Sobyanin stresses that this enterprise – a cornerstone for the nation – faces pressing challenges, including the development of transport infrastructure.
So, who's filling Gamarnik's old shoes? None other than Ekaterina Solovyova, who's been helming the Moscow office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service since April 2020. FYI, she's no newbie to city politics – she's got years of experience in the city government under her belt, including a stint as deputy head of the Moscow Department of Land Resources.
But that's not all! In a move to streamline governance, Sobyanin also decided to combine the functions of two divisions – civil engineering and new territory development – creating a unified Department of Civil Engineering. This new structure will be nestled within the Moscow Urban Planning Complex and helmed by the experienced Alexei Alexandrov. With extensive commercial construction know-how, Alexandrov is the right man (or person, remember we're inclusive here) for the job!
Lastly, the head of the Department of Construction, Rafik Zagrutdinov, has been rewarded with the honorary title "Merited Builder" and will carry on honing his craft in this field.
Now, let's put on our detective hats for a second. This personnel shift might not be just a mere coincidence. Some speculate that these changes reflect a broader trend of aligning leadership in strategic sectors with federal objectives. With Russia's increased focus on infrastructure and urban development, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that centralizing civil engineering department oversight could be a way to ensure critical projects move forward amid ongoing wartime economic demands. And who can blame them? After all, efficient use of resources is crucial in these trying times! Keep an eye on this space for more political juju, folks! 😉
In Case You Missed It:
- Personnel changes in Moscow's government reflect a broader trend of centralizing leadership in strategic sectors, potentially to align with federal objectives.
- A unified Department of Civil Engineering could be implemented to centralize oversight of critical infrastructure projects amid ongoing wartime economic demands.
- Efficient use of resources in state-owned enterprises like Mosinzhproekt is essential, given rising defense expenditures and a growing aging population.
[1] Kremlin pushes centralized control over recruitment and appointments in military and occupation-related roles. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/05/ukraine-russia-kremlin-launches-time-of-heroes-program-to-train-loyal-officials.html
[2] Moscow metro station recruitment drives. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/moscow-metro-begins-recreation-service-workers-military-unit-defense-minister-2022-03-09/
[3] Demographic challenges and aging population initiatives in Russia. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2022/03/31/russias-aging-population-demographic-challenges-in-putins-third-term/
- The mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, announced a shift in personnel in the city's government, with Maxim Gamarnik moving to Russia's largest engineering powerhouse, AO "Mosinzhproekt," and Ekaterina Solovyova taking over Gamarnik's old position at the Moscow Department of City Property.
- Sobyanin believes this personnel change is strategic, as it will strengthen the team leading construction projects under the comprehensive territory development program (KTR), especially in terms of transport infrastructure development.
- Additionally, Sobyanin created a unified Department of Civil Engineering, combining the functions of civil engineering and new territory development, and appointed Alexei Alexandrov to head this department.
- There's speculation that these personnel changes could reflect a broader trend of aligning leadership in strategic sectors with federal objectives, especially during Russia's increased focus on infrastructure and urban development.

