Ivan Mezyukho: ‘The dissolution of the CFD does not mean that the Peninsula has become an ordinary region of the country’

A long process

At the end of July, by the President order the Crimean Federal District was dissolved and the Southern Federal District was converted, which started to include the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Besides, the Governor of Sevastopol Sergey Menyailo was dismissed, now he occupies the position of Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the Siberian Federal District. Oleg Belaventsev, the former presidential envoy in the CFD, was transferred to the same office in the North Caucasian Federal District. These events have blown the Crimean Internet space, creating a lot of speculation and forecasts about the future of the Crimean authorities and the political system of the Peninsula as a whole.

Not mentioning the inappropriate reaction of Ukraine on joining the Peninsula in the Southern Federal District, which recognized the Russian sovereignty in Crimea and Sevastopol that way, we will try to determine the reasons for the dissolution of the CFD. I must say that the dissolution of the Crimean Federal District is the process that has been lasting more than one day. It was previously abolished the Ministry of the Russian Federation of Crimean Affairs. Alas, there were various kinds of interdepartmental contradictions between Republican and Federal officials in the disbursement of funds of the Crimean FTP. There were some rough edges between the subjects of the country on the issue of the construction of the Kerch bridge that will connect the Peninsula with the mainland Russia.

The Governor of Sevastopol Sergey Menyailo was dismissed, now he occupies the position of Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the Siberian Federal District. Photo: sfo.gov.ru

The integration stage

Initially, the creation of the Crimean Federal District only for the two regions was due to the need for accelerated integration of the Peninsula in the Russian economic, political, cultural and legal space. I must say that during the existence of the CFD the local and federal authorities carried out titanic work on the reconstruction of all spheres of society. Not so long ago in the Crimea there was the dual currency system, dual legislation, the population received passports, medical insurances and other documents en masse. The Peninsula has experienced water, food and energy blockade, but the Crimean economy has experienced all the difficulties caused by international sanctions.

The President of Russia Vladimir Putin, having eliminated the CFD, marked the completion of another phase of integration of the Peninsula in the space of the country. Taking into account that it was done by the head of state on the eve of elections to the State Duma, in the result of which Crimea and Sevastopol will be included in the lower house of Parliament, the political integration of the new constituent entities of the country can be considered almost completed. At the same time, I must say that the elimination of the CFD does not mean that the Peninsula has become an ordinary region of the country. Crimea, as before, is under the sanctions and borders with the anti-Russian government, a part of which it was for a long time. In the Peninsula, as before, huge financial funds should be invested in order Crimea in the future will cease to be subsidized, and, on the contrary, will become a donor for other regions of the country.

Not so long ago in the Crimea there was the dual currency system, dual legislation, the population received passports, medical insurances and other documents en masse. Photo: rrnews.ru

The efficiency of the authorities

The transfer of the former governor of Sevastopol Sergey Menyailo and ex-Crimean presidential envoy Oleg Belaventsev to other regions of Russia was taking place simultaneously with a number of personnel changes made by the head of state not only in the Crimea. The Kremlin in one day has shuffled personnel to optimize the work and effectiveness of the local authorities. Sending Sergey Meniailo to Siberia, the President increased his status and gave another opportunity to prove his devotion and the need of power. As a military man, he should feel more than comfortable at the representative position, which, though not enshrined in the Constitution of Russia, but is filled with real content in accordance with a personality that fills it. At the same time, having appointed to the vacant post the governor of Sevastopol Dmitry Ovsyannikov, but not the leader of the 'Russian Spring' Aleksey Chaly, who had an interpersonal conflict with Sergey Menyailo that resulted in the difficulties of socio-economic development of the city, the President has made it clear to the local elite that in the current conflict in the city-hero both are to blame: Menyailo, as well as Chaly.

The Crimea as a part of the SFD may intensify interregional cooperation so necessary for the Crimean economy. Furthermore, it is likely that the Plenipotentiary representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Southern Federal District Vladimir Ustinov will strengthen the control over the Crimea and Sevastopol in the disbursement of funds of the federal program, the implementation of which previously had problems.