VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
The Prime Minister assured everyone who has been left homeless by the fires that their new homes would be better than their old ones. He also advised residents in the village of Mokhovoye to opt for individual houses.
Those who have suffered as a result of the fires told Vladimir Putin that their immediate needs were all being met, that they had received money for essentials promptly, that their compensation was being transferred to their accounts and that people continued to bring humanitarian supplies, including food, clothes and other essentials. Work is currently underway to recover the documents of everyone affected.
During the conversation, the prime minister also told the residents that he had instructed the agencies that will supervise the construction works, to install video surveillance cameras at all construction sites where homes for those displaced by the fires would be built. The footage will broadcast online, including on the prime minister's website.
Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, this is a planned meeting to discuss current questions and issues. But since we're in the Moscow Region, I thought it'd be appropriate to take a look at, and discuss, recent developments. And we can talk about the issues that concern you. If there are any issues you find unclear or confusing, then I am here to resolve them for you, I could explain how we're going to work on rebuilding housing.
You're from the village of Mokhovoye, aren't you? It's been affected worse than other villages - it has been completely burned to the ground. Governor Gromov said that practically no one wants to stay in this village, and the authorities have decided to build new housing for you in the village of Beloomut. He claims you agreed. So now I'd like to ask you what decision you have come to, do you really agree? What other issues do you think need to be discussed today and taken into account while organising this work?
You know everything about compensation. I'd like to hear from you about how the payment of compensation is coming along. I have mentioned it more than once but still would like to repeat that these payments include 10,000 roubles to cover your immediate needs, 200,000 roubles to compensate you for the movable property you've lost, your things - 100,000 each from the federal and regional budgets - and two million roubles to build new houses, and we'll also add one million roubles to develop infrastructure, which is in this case very important for you as a new village is being built, such as roads, electricity and gas supplies, communications and so on.
Yesterday I announced another measure - you might have heard - we decided to pay 25,000 roubles to each unemployed pensioner, in addition to the rest of the payments. In some regions, local authorities and companies are offering additional payments as well.
So, these are the basic numbers.
Any questions? Please.
Vladimir Luchkin: No questions. As far as the instructions you gave to the government of the Moscow Region, everything is being done properly, the local administration is addressing these issues. Mr Gromov visited us two days ago.
Vladimir Putin: Mr Gromov has just shown me an action plan. It is important that the builders use modern materials and meet the quality requirements and deadline we agreed of November 1. Building everything from scratch is a big challenge, but we can rise to it by taking advantage of modern technology and funding this project on schedule. We do have the necessary funds, and they have been transferred to the regions from the federal budget. Now the only issue is to ensure that this work is properly organised and overseen.
Incidentally, when I visited the Nizhny Novgorod Region, this is what people asked me about. First they wondered how we intend to oversee the implementation of these decisions. One of the most effective methods is round-the-clock video surveillance of construction sites.
Therefore today I am giving the necessary instructions to government agencies to install surveillance cameras at every construction site - I'd like to highlight, at every construction site. They will work 24/7 transmitting the image to three locations, a computer in the Government House, my home computer and the website of the prime minister of the Russian Federation. Everybody will be able to see online what is being done at one construction site or another, what it all looks like and how the builders are working.
Tragically some people have been killed by the fires in the Moscow Region, as you know. We will pay one million roubles to the families of those killed in the fires for every relative they've lost. Of course, this money can't raise their loved one from the dead, but at least is goes some way to supporting people through this tragedy.
Vladimir Luchkin: It's good that almost everyone was rescued.
Vladimir Putin: I know.
Vladimir Luchkin: The village caught alight in minutes.
Vladimir Putin: It was a crown fire.
Vladimir Luchkin: Terrible... We didn't expect it to come from that side. We expected it from the other side.
Vladimir Putin: It was not even a fire in the classic meaning of the word, it was a storm.
Vladimir Luchkin: It happened right before our eyes.
Vladimir Putin: This is why the preventive measures that were taken in some areas, like digging trenches, have been no use.
Vladimir Luchkin: We felled trees...
Vladimir Putin: Yes, you even felled trees.
Yekaterina Khokhlova: That was done on one side of the village, but the fire approached from the other side.
Vladimir Putin: The firestorm was so strong that it scattered its debris over an area of 1.5 km, while fireballs travelled long distances.
Vladimir Luchkin: Yes, that's exactly what happened. We thought there was a plane in the sky.
Vladimir Putin: A plane?
Vladimir Luchkin: Yes, we were felling the trees, the tractor was working, and suddenly we heard this roar getting louder and louder. I thought it was a plane to put out the fire. No such luck! There was a large gang saw at the forestry office near the forest, which had been out of action for a few years already. The fire hit gang saw and the firestorm hurled it over to the community centre, about 200 meters away. It flared up like a fireball and the flames rose. We just dropped everything and ran! We barely managed to escape.
Vladimir Putin: And that was the right thing to do.
Yekaterina Khokhlova: The flames leapt over a two-storey building, over the roof. The grass was already burning but we drove through it.
Vladimir Luchkin: We were lucky that the road was not blocked by the fire. We used to be happy here, it was good...
Yekaterina Khokhlova: We had a pine forest...
Vladimir Luchkin: We would go mushrooming, but now - these raging fires.
Vladimir Putin: People are practically helpless in situations like the one you've described. In cases like that, man is powerless.
Vladimir Luchkin: There was nothing we could have done. Nothing would have helped. The fires were raging so hard. They started so abruptly... We have a forest there and the young trees were very close to each other. This is why it happened like this.
Vladimir Putin: Well, what can I say? In any event, given that these fires were so powerful and difficult to cope with, the main point is that there was no loss of life. This is what is most important! When it comes down to it, I don't know what kind of buildings you lived in but I'm certain the new ones will be better than those you had.
Vladimir Luchkin: They were built in the 1950s.
Vladimir Putin: As I suspected. I haven't seen them but I can imagine their quality.
Yekaterina Khokhlova: So, will the new ones be ready in autumn?
Vladimir Putin: Yes, definitely. These will be new houses built using new technology and kitted out with modern equipment. Obviously, we won't be building any palaces, though.
Yekaterina Khokhlova: We don't need palaces - just normal houses...
Vladimir Putin: But this will be modern housing...
Yekaterina Khokhova: ... so that they are comfortable to live in.
Vladimir Putin: ...comfortable housing. Have you been paid and where do you live?
Yekaterina Khokhlova: In the dormitory of a vocational institute. It is a big dormitory. We were instantly taken there and given food to eat. We are grateful to everyone. They all go on holiday in summer but were called back.
Vladimir Putin: Is everyone back?
Yekaterina Khokhlova: Yes, everyone. Everyone is very attentive. Of course, in terms of morale, this is quite an ordeal but day and night we feel supported by our administration and other people.
Vladimir Luchkin: People are bringing humanitarian relief.
Yekaterina Khokhlova: Yes, humanitarian relief - from apples to money.
Vladimir Luchkin: We have no room for clothes anymore - the dormitory is packed to the rafters.
Yekaterina Khokhlova: The telephones are ringing constantly.
Lyudmila Kiselyova: It is not only our neighbours from the village but people from the region who are helping us. Last night some young guys arrived from Moscow bringing clothes, shoes and immediate necessities.
Vladimir Putin: Have you been paid?
Vladimir Luchkin: Yes, we have been paid.
Lyudmila Kiselyova: They paid us yesterday and today we received 100,000 roubles into our bank accounts.
Vladimir Putin: You have been paid 100,000 roubles but what about the 10,000 roubles?
Voices: We got it yesterday.
Vladimir Putin: I simply took into account the fact that the 10,000 roubles must be paid immediately. After all, people need something to live on.
Vladimir Luchkin: Some families were left with nothing...
Yekaterina Khokhlova: Some at least kept their handbags, whereas others were left without any ID or money.
Vladimir Putin: This is my next question. Are your documents being recovered?
Remark: There are few among us without documents. This was the first thing we grabbed. Most people have their papers with them.
Lyudmila Kiselyova: This is why it won't take us long at all to replace any missing papers.
Vyacheslav Zhigalkin: We've organised the work of regional services. Their employees are working on location. They are replacing medical insurances, passports, pension cards... They have already compiled the lists.
Lyudmila Kiselyova: Medical insurance policies have been changed for everyone.
Vladimir Putin: We do understand how important it is for everyone. I won't quote the common proverbs and sayings but it is impossible to do anything without these documents in the modern world, and in this country. People immediately feel they are not entitled to any of their rights and that they can't do a thing without their papers, especially in Moscow. Therefore, this must be done as soon as possible. I mean that these documents will be needed for all the other questions to be resolved. People need to rebuild their houses, drive cars and receive pensions or allowances. Therefore, this must be done quickly. Where do they open accounts for you, in Sberbank?
Vladimir Luchkin: Yes, accounts for those who did not have them were opened yesterday and they received everything yesterday.
Vladimir Putin: Practically all of you want to live in buildings in your village, don't you?
Vladimir Luchkin: Ideally. We feel attached to that land.
Vladimir Putin: You lived and worked there. It's understandable.
Vladimir Luchkin: This is why we'd like to have something there, a house and a plot of land.
Vladimir Putin: It shall be so. Mr Gromov, how much land are you allocating there?
Boris Gromov: There is quite a big plot of land there. We have calculated how much we need in the town centre where we are planning to erect the new buildings. Right now I can't say exactly how much land we will allot to each person because we are still examining this issue, still planning.
Vladimir Putin: Will you build individual houses?
Boris Gromov: The buildings they lived in had a number of flats. We'll build two or three like that, brand new.
Vladimir Putin: But why? Don't we have enough land? Build a small house for each of them.
Yekaterina Khokhlova: At least for two families.
Vladimir Luchkin: We had buildings with eight flats and each family had a small plot of land. I also had a garage there...
Vladimir Putin: Yes, I understand. Listen, think of it as a blessing in disguise...
Vladimir Luchkin: No, we do not want to make any claims.
Vladimir Putin: But it would be better to build a small house with a plot, okay?
Boris Gromov: Will do.
Vladimir Luchkin: We don't need mansions.
Vladimir Putin: Well, modesty is always better.
Vladimir Luchkin: We are not asking for anything.
Yekaterina Khokhlova: We don't need any luxuries.
Vladimir Putin: Why go to some garage if you can have it on your plot of land. The government will spend almost the same amount of money on this. The saving will be peanuts. It is not worth saving on that.
As for land... Are we short of land in Russia? Allocate the land for free. It's a deal.
Boris Gromov: Can I ask you a question? All those who have been displaced by the fire are currently housed in the vocational institute's dormitory. The academic year starts in a month, or just under. Here's my request. There is a military unit there in Beloomut and barracks with many unoccupied flats. It would be good to use them as temporary housing for two to three months before we complete the construction of buildings. Would that be possible?
Vladimir Putin: I don't think this should be a problem. We'll sort it out with the Defence Ministry. They received an order to help fight the fires. I think this is a humanitarian issue.
Boris Gromov: Should I write a letter?
Vladimir Putin: Of course.
Boris Gromov: I will. Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Write directly to the minister.
Lyudmila Kiselyova: Mr Putin, on behalf of everyone who has suffered as a result of these fires, I'd like to thank the government, Mr Gromov and the Moscow Region authorities for resolving all these problems so quickly.
Vladimir Putin: And tell them that, it'll help them keep their chins up and stay strong.
Yekaterina Khokhlova: We are trying to keep on.
Vladimir Luchkin: We are not losing heart!
Vladimir Putin: It will all be fine.
