Boris Bronshtein, Novaya Gazeta's own correspondent
Regional leaders have started working at the public reception offices of Prime Minister and United Russia Party Chairman Vladimir Putin.
It turns out that any problem, including those solved long ago, can be solved on behalf of Mr Putin and with the help of Tatarstan's President Mintimer Shaimiyev.
On December 1, those who showed up at Mr Putin's public reception office in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, were surprised to see President Shaimiyev sitting there. It would only be more surprising if Prime Minister Putin himself was in the office.
Mr Shaimiyev received visitors for two hours in the capacity of regional leader and Co-Chairman of the Supreme United Russia Council. The local media was delighted because Mr Shaimiyev solved all the problems. In fact, the President of Tatarstan worked so effectively that one is inclined to ask "Why couldn't he receive people every day? This would make life much easier."
But this is the second aspect, while the first implies problems that can only be solved by United Russia officials. People in a rule-of-law state should renounce Soviet-era methods as when the Soviet Communist Party's grass-roots and district committees had to tackle such problems as roof repairs, firewood procurement and marital infidelity.
However, local journalists standing with microphones and TV cameras in front of the reception office had no doubts that this was the right place to find a fair solution. They said many visitors were excited because their decision to visit the reception office of United Russia, a leading national political force, was the last straw.
Indeed, no other officials can deal with construction defects. Mr Shaimiyev was told that an apartment block in Kazan either had defective insulation in its attic or a defective ventilation system. In effect, its walls were covered with mould; and only United Russia could eliminate the problem. Most likely, the party which was supported by 81.07% of Tatarstan voters can wipe out the same amount of mould.
Apparently it's possible to solve any problem, including those already solved, on behalf of Mr Putin and Mr Shaimiyev. For instance, a woman came to the reception office and asked that a four-kilometre asphalt road be built toward Bibai Chally village.
Mr Shaimiyev assured all village residents that the road toward the village would soon be built under a 2009 programme. Everybody, including the lady, who heads Bibai Chally administration, will now be informed about this decision. Although it is unclear why she knew nothing about the 2009 programme to date, she has found the solution to the problem.
As usual, visitors complained about the passive and indifferent reaction of agencies contacted before arriving at Putin's public reception office. This is understandable since bureaucrats have always escorted Russia on the road to prosperity. In fact, the bureaucratic pace car always outraces the presidential limousine.
What should national leaders do at a time when numerous generations of petitioners are wandering through the corridors of power in an effort to solve their problems? A man, whose father had petitioned Mr Shaimiyev when he was still First Secretary of the Tatar Regional Communist Party Committee, could have contacted him this time, as well.
The Government can create favourable conditions for enforcing federal law by facilitating independent courts and a free press. Or it can reinforce the bureaucratic system further and establish partisan reception offices, where republican presidents and regional governors will receive visitors, all across the nation.
The second scenario has already been implemented. Putin's reception offices have opened in an impressive setting in every Russian region. Vologda and Ulyanovsk Region Governors have received visitors at such offices even before Mr Shaimiyev and in the run-up to Mr Putin's televised question-and-answer session. Naturally, they also successfully coped with various problems that could have been solved at their offices and without any partisan fanfare.
Chelyabinsk Region Governor Pyotr Sumin did not talk to petitioners at the United Russia regional reception office. He visited the office during the official opening ceremony and advised the public not to abuse partisan hospitality.
"It would be inappropriate to appeal to Mr Putin at the reception office from the very outset. As you know, he is a great man, but he cannot cope with the tidal wave of possible problems and issues," Sumin said.
This is debatable because we already know that Mr Putin has managed to solve numerous problems; and he will do the same on December 4. This is no alternative because he is our last hope. Although Putin and United Russia are great, we can retreat no more.