News

Oleg Melnichenko delivered a report at the scientific and practical conference "Days of Russian Federation Subjects in the Federation Council of the Russian Federation as a Significant Factor in Strengthening the System of Public Authority and Ensuring Sustainable Development of the Country and Its Regions," organized by the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Self-Government and Northern Affairs, under the leadership of its chairman Andrey Shevchenko.  
The conference was attended by Andrey Yatskin, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation; Vadim Zhivulin, Plenipotentiary Representative of the Russian Government to the Federation Council of the Russian Federation; as well as representatives of federal executive bodies and Russian regions.  
Andrey Shevchenko named Penza Oblast among the few regions that have participated in the Regions' Days three times. The region presented itself in 2013, 2019, and 2026.  
"I would note that when Valentina Ivanovna Matviyenko became Chairman of the Federation Council, the Subjects' Days began to be held in a qualitatively new format. These are not only exhibitions of the region's achievements, but above all, the adoption of resolutions on state support for the socio-economic development of a specific subject," said the committee chairman.  
"Russian President Vladimir Putin set a clear task to more actively involve regions in developing decisions on the national agenda. Within the framework of the 'Regions’ Hour,' we are fulfilling this task," emphasized Andrey Yatskin, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation.  
As Oleg Melnichenko noted, the 2019 Federation Council resolution has been implemented by Penza Oblast by more than 90%. With its assistance, the laboratory and diagnostic building of the regional oncology center, a children's clinic, and the largest school in the Volga Federal District in Sputnik City, as well as a school in the village of Bolshoy Vyas, were built, and the sewage treatment facilities in Bessonovka were reconstructed. The unique Penza Planetarium was also restored, the Soyuz industrial park was reconstructed, and several water bodies were cleaned.  
"The Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation monitors all instructions given by the Federation Council and compiles a summary. These instructions indeed concern the most acute, pressing issues from the regions," commented Svyatoslav Sorokin, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.  
"Regions' Days are a serious form of interaction between regions and the upper house of parliament. We have the opportunity to draw attention to our problematic issues both to the Government of the Russian Federation and federal ministries, explain their relevance and significance, and ultimately resolve them," Oleg Melnichenko emphasized in his speech.  
The Days of Penza Oblast in the Federation Council were held for the third time from May 18 to 20, 2026. The region brought nine projects to the discussion with senators. All of them received support and were included in the new resolution of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation.