Several governors criticize Putin’s plan to curb their powers

Vladimir Isachenkov

Wednesday, June 7, 2000 | 8:17 a.m.

MOSCOW - Overcoming their reluctance to publicly challenge President Vladimir Putin, several of Russia's provincial governors on Wednesday criticized his plan to curb their powers.

Putin's plan would strip governors and heads of regional legislatures of their seats in the upper house, the Federation Council, and replace them with appointed legislators. Putin also wants the power to dismiss elected governors who violate federal law.

"It's like them telling us ... we have the noose all ready and waiting for you," said Vyacheslav Lyubimov, the governor of Ryazan province in western Russia.

Until now, Russia's political leaders have been cautious about going up against Putin, who has been enjoying a political honeymoon since taking over for President Boris Yeltsin on Dec. 31. Nonetheless, analysts say, some governors had hoped to quietly negotiate changes that would water it down.

Russian tycoon and lawmaker Boris Berezovsky was the first to publicly criticize the plan, writing in an open letter to Putin last week that the proposals would give the president too much power and undermine democracy.

The Federation Council convened Wednesday for the first time since Putin outlined his plan last month, and governors had the chance to discuss the plan with their peers. Opposition broke into the open.

"Governors know the real situation in the regions better than anyone else, so why block them from cooperating directly with the country's top leadership?," Anatoly Lisitsyn, governor of the Yaroslavl region, asked rhetorically.

Putin says tightening control over the regions is essential to help fix the ailing economy and keep Russia from breaking up. One-fifth of regional laws violate the constitution, according to Putin, and governors of wealthier regions are often reluctant to share revenues with the central government.

The lower house, the State Duma, gave quick initial approval last month to three bills that would put Putin's plan into action. But the legislators are expected to introduce many amendments before finally approving the bills and sending them on to the Federation Council later this month.