ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. It is noteworthy that Putin began his working visit to the Krasnoyarsk region from Norilsk. The President visited the Octyabrsky mine, and its record-breaking deep mine working at a depth of 1 002 meters and was presented with a mining lamp with the number 0001. In 2010, Vladimir Putin flew to Norilsk for the second time in the status of prime minister.
Another landmark event twenty years ago was the governor election. Everyone understood that after the Alexander Lebed’s tragic death, two industrial corporations would fight for the post of the region governor: Norilsk Nickel and Russian Aluminum. In that year, a joke became popular that they would not choose the governor, but a chemical element.
15 candidates entered the fight for the governor’s chair, but the main struggle unfolded between the favorites, two Alexanders – Hloponin and Uss.
They advanced to the second round, in which Alexander Hloponin won on September 22, gaining 48.07 percent of the vote. He became the governor of the Krasnoyarsk region. For the first time, one of the largest regions of Russia executive power head post was occupied by a person who perfectly knew and understood the problems of Norilsk as he was among the Norilsk Nickel authorities. Norilsk people called Hloponin ‘our governor’.
In 2002 (this was the era of mayor Oleg Budargin), the last residential building was erected before a long pause – on Ordzhonikidze street, 4b. Construction began in 1995, but then stopped, and in 2002 the building was completed.
In addition, in 2002, ten years behind the world, mobile communications appeared in Norilsk. In just nine months, the expenses of citizens on communication services increased six times.
On February 14, 2002, on Valentine’s Day, on Leninsky prospekt, 21, in Norilsk the Wedding Palace was opened in the building of a former kindergarten.
In the History Spot’s previous publication, we told that a quarter of a century ago in Norilsk, Talnah and Kayerkan, the first in their history direct elections of mayors were held: 1997 became the year of mayors.
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Text: Svetlana Ferapontova, Photo: Nornickel Polar Branch archive
