2 июля 2007 Года
July 2, 2007. TWO REGIONS ON RUSSIA’S KAMCHATKA PENNINSULA MERGE INTO ONE
 On July 1 a new subject of the Russian Federation was formed in the Far East from the merging of the Kamchatka Oblast’ and the Koryak Autonomous Okrug into the Kamchatka Krai. Russia now has 85 federal subjects (down from 89 in 2005) and further mergers are expected to bring the number down to at least 83.
The decision to merge was approved by voters in both regions in a referendum on October 23, 2005. Over 84% of the votes in the Kamchatka Oblast’ were in favor of the merger, and the support in the Koryak Autonomous Okrug totaled 89%.
To celebrate the formation of the new region, over 2.3 thousand couples kissed simultaneously under the guise of fireworks in the center of the capital city, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy (pop. 198,028, according to a 2002 census). As the celebrations continued, certain streets were closed off to traffic. Various cultural and sporting events took place. Even snow was hauled into the center of the city from atop a volcano so local snowboarders could show off their abilities.
Alexei Kuzmitsky, the governor of the new region, formally assumed his duties in an inauguration ceremony on July 3rd. In December of 2007 elections for a new legislature will take place. The transition period for the new federal subject is to be completed by December 31, 2008. Local politicians hope that the merger will help them to achieve the goal of doubling the area’s GDP in 2002 by 2010.
Currently the Kamchatka Oblast’ occupies a territory of 170.8 thousand square kilometers and has a population of 330.4 thousand people. The analogous numbers for the Koryak Autonomous Okrug are 301.5 square kilometers and 24.3 thousand persons.
Two similar mergers of Russian regions have already taken place: the Perm Oblast’ and the Permyak Autonomous Okrug united into the Perm Krai in 2005 and the Krasnoyarsk Krai, the Evenk Autonomous Okrug and the Taymyr Autonomous Okrug were amalgamated into the Krasnoyarsk Krai in 2007.
Referendums have already taken place in the Irkutsk Oblast’ and Buryat Autonomous Okrug in 2006 to merge on January 1, 2008 into Irkutsk Oblast’. In 2007 voters in the Chita Oblast’ and Agin-Buryat Autonomous Okrug also approved a merger into the Zabaykalskiy Krai on Mar 1, 2008. At least 9 other mergers of Russian regions have been proposed for the future, but have not yet been voted on.
Translated by Artem V. Zagorodnov
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