On December 3, the Prime Minister answered questions from the Russian people in a live phone-in programme (you can read the transcript on our site kp.ru). Immediately after the broadcast bureaucrats at all levels began to react. The reactions varied, however.
ROSTOV REGION. Azov authorities will wait for an official paper
Let us recall that a Rostov citizen, Oleg Trusov, told the Prime Minister that the Azov mayor's office had repeatedly turned down a petition for a flat from 84-year-old Nina Demidenko. As a war veteran she is entitled to government housing by law. Vladimir Putin branded the actions of the bureaucrats as negligent and dismissive.
"Within half an hour after the programme officials from the Azov Mayor's Office came to us," said Yulia Trusova, the veteran's sister. "First Deputy Mayor and the Veterans'Affairs Department head, Nina Streltsova, who previously turned our request down citing the law."
Even as the phone-in programme was still on, it was reported that the city authorities promptly put Nina Demidenko on the waiting list for a flat and had even assigned her a flat. The reports turned out to be false.
"They argued that they did not have an official document from the State Duma which said that all the veterans of the Second World War were entitled to government housing. Once they receive it they will let their decision be known to us."
The next day, on Friday, the Azov Deputy Mayor was summoned to the governor in Rostov. What they discussed behind closed doors is not known. However, an hour later the Mayor of Azov, Sergey Bezdolny, had cut his holiday short and was back in his office. He called an emergency conference to discuss the "case of Aunt Nina." But the Mayor's Office Azov was still clutching at a straw: let them first send us an official document from the State Duma.
"Although the Prime Minister said that the decision has been taken, we have not seen an official paper," Azov Deputy Mayor , Vladimir Parfyonov, was answering a hail of questions on behalf of his boss. "As soon as we get the document we will have legal grounds to provide her with a flat, but when it will happen depends on the provisions of the law. In general, Nina Demidenko is entitled to government housing."
That same day the Mayor signed an executive order creating a commission that would decide what to do about the actions of Nina Streltsova. Obviously, she was designated as the scapegoat in this whole affair.
By the way, Aunt Nina's blood pressures shot up as a result of all these goings-on. By Friday evening, however, she felt well enough to talk with KP journalists.
"My blood pressure went up sharply: my modest home had never seen so many guests and journalists, she admitted. "During the war I was a member of an anti-aircraft gun crew and I never felt as tired as I am from all these conversations with the bureaucrats."
IRKUTSK REGION. Teacher will be provided with free medicines
Nadezhda Lobkina from Angarsk asked a question that worries all the recipients of state benefits. They have become used to a certain drug, which is effective and it is not available in pharmacies for free. Instead, the pharmacy offers an analog.
"I have type B diabetes, I want to receive the drug Siophor-850 for free. We selected it together with my endocrinologist," the teacher told us. "Doctors wrote out prescriptions, but the pharmacy refused to give me the drug."
The Irkutsk Region Health Ministry held a fast-track internal investigation.
"Nadezhda Lobkina had turned down a free prescription for analog medicines: glucoformin and glucophage. And yet they are available in the pharmacy for free," says the regional health minister Gaidar Gaidarov. "If the woman had applied to the city health department they would have put her on the list of persons who need costly drugs for diabetes. We will put her on the list and she will get the drugs she needs."
CHELYABINSK REGION. A hospital will be rebuilt in Magnitogorsk
Natalya Asatryan, an engineer at the Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Plant, told the Prime Minister about the local Hospital No.1 where she was laid up recently:
"I was shocked by the conditions there..." As a result of her request a commission of the regional government led by the regional health minister Viktor Shepelev came to the hospital. "It is beyond repair," he told the chief doctor after inspecting the hospital. "It needs to be rebuilt. The city administration has estimated that it will cost more than 300 million roubles. The region cannot put up such a sum. So we decided to ask for help from Moscow."
Construction is to begin in early 2010.
Alexander Stepanov, Irina Poterya, Olga Lipchinskaya and Ulyana Shevchenko