Recent statements by Ilya Klebanov about the need to make Kaliningrad a foreign territory of Russia have agitated the local population

Saturday, August 17, 2019

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Recent statements by Presidential Envoy to the Northwestern Federal District Ilya Klebanov about the need to make Kaliningrad a foreign territory of Russia have agitated the local population. Though Russia's Foreign Ministry wasted no time in rejecting the possibility and the local authorities denounced the idea, some Kaliningrad politicians decided to establish a public movement called "Republic," Izvestia reported. The founding congress of the new political movement is scheduled to be held in Kaliningrad Monday. Its organizers want the region to be autonomous. Though this idea is not new, Mr. Klebanov's timing suits the public mood, according to Vitautas Lopata, a local parliamentary deputy. The struggle to achieve autonomous status is expected to continue. If granted, Kaliningrad will be able to adapt its legislation to the EU terms. Sergei Pasko, president of the regional Union of Entrepreneurs, considers the establishment of the movement a response to Moscow's attempt to a special economic zone in the Kaliningrad Region. According to Mr. Pasko, the law is humiliating and could put the region on the brink of ruin. "But even if Moscow makes concessions on the law, we will continue to demand the status of an autonomous republic," Mr. Pasko said. The region's Governor Vladimir Yegorov is skeptical on forming a new movement and said its organizers should "channel their intellect and energy in a direction that would be more useful for the region."

Bookmark Recent statements by Ilya Klebanov about the need to make Kaliningrad a foreign territory of Russia have agitated the local population