Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, Ms Komarova.

Natalya Komarova: Good afternoon, Mr Putin.

Vladimir Putin: According to the information I have read about the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area, you are among the fastest developing regions in Russia. You also have a budget surplus of over 12 billion roubles. Is that correct?

Natalya Komarova: Well, our figures differ slightly from those of the Finance Ministry, but you are right, in principle. We have managed to cut the anticipated budget deficit – as for the consolidated budget, it was estimated at 17 billion roubles – to 2.3 billion. The region’s budget surplus exceeds 500 million roubles, according to our estimates.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, I see your logic. I was pleased that you had virtually no wage arrears as of December 1, 2010, which is good. Your industrial production growth is lower than the average for the country, but this is natural because if we consider this as post-crisis recovery, the situation is...

Natalya Komarova: The decline was 70%...

Vladimir Putin: But I have also noticed that the amount of housing construction has decreased.

Natalya Komarova: This is true. But first, budget allocations for housing construction have fallen by over 87%, and second, the situation [in the construction industry] was affected by the crisis. Lastly, I think that the question – how shall I put it to express myself more clearly? – the question of ensuring that contract commitments are honoured has also played its part. Cases were reported in the region where private individuals, interest-holders were deceived. This has affected people’s confidence that they will receive housing or be able to provide housing for their families. We are currently working to regain their trust, and plan to commission over 1 million square metres of housing next year.

Vladimir Putin: Although you have a budget surplus, we plan, as you know, to allocate federal budget funds to your region to develop highways and also to improve the condition of surfacing between courtyards. Are you prepared to implement this project?

Natalya Komarova: Yes, we are. We have prepared proposals to submit to the respective federal agencies to qualify for these federal programmes and hope very much that these federal funds will be transferred on schedule.

One of the big problems in the region is to ensure the transport accessibility of outlying towns. As of now, you can reach over 200 towns and villages in the region only by air or by winter roads. Therefore, ensuring transport accessibility is one of our priorities, so that the regional economy, each town and village – or more precisely each resident – can take advantage of the benefits of a stable budget and a rapidly growing economy. This is one of our goals, and we are certainly interested in taking part in federal programmes in order to develop the transport infrastructure in our region.

Vladimir Putin: Can you tell me about the people injured in the air crash?

Natalya Komarova: Eight of them are still in hospital and 14 are receiving outpatient treatment. One of the eight in hospital has moderately serious injuries but is improving. The doctors say that everyone receiving treatment is improving quite well.

I would like to thank you for helping arrange for financial assistance for those who have requested it jointly with the federal authorities – I am referring to the regional budget – even though it was New Year’s Day.

As many as 33 people have requested such assistance, which was approved by the regional government. We have made payments to 30 of them, with 18 getting the money through Sberbank and Russian Post, which opened specially to do this. It was very important that people could receive financial assistance immediately upon request.

On top of this, the Kogalymavia airline has approved 20,000 roubles in financial assistance to each crash victim; 78 of them have requested and received the money.

The insurer Sogaz administers the insurance contract between the airline and the passengers. It is now collecting compensation requests and insurance claims for lost baggage, personal property, health problems and, I am sorry to say, loss of life. Three people have died in that crash.

Vladimir Putin: Please, continue to monitor the situation.