Vladimir Putin has decided to introduce martial law in four new regions of Russia. A different regime is being introduced in the territories bordering Ukraine – the "average level of response". Another important change is the creation of a coordinating council, with the participation of the government and law enforcement agencies. How do the special regimes differ from each other and what are the tasks of the new council?On Wednesday, at a meeting of the Security Council, President Vladimir Putin announced the adoption of several important decisions.
Firstly, a decree was signed on the introduction of martial law in four new regions of Russia: the DPR, the LPR, the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.
Secondly, the decree provides that the so-called average response level is introduced in eight territories. We are talking about the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as the Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Voronezh, Rostov regions and the Krasnodar Territory.
The governors will receive additional powers to ensure security in the regions. The decree provides for several levels of response to emerging risks, including restricting the movement of vehicles and carrying out their inspection.
Thirdly, the President instructed Mikhail Mishustin's cabinet to create a special council to coordinate work on improving security. The council will include: deputy prime ministers, representatives of law enforcement agencies and the socio-economic block of the government, employees of the presidential administration, as well as the State Council.
The presidential decree on the introduction of martial law was unanimously approved in the Federation Council.
What does the introduction of martial law meanThe introduction of martial law in the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions assumes the maximum level of response, mobilization in regional and local authorities, as well as in the economy.
Also, civil defense measures will be carried out in these regions, to cover the needs of the Russian military and the needs of the population. In addition, territorial defense is being conducted in four regions and interdepartmental coordinating bodies are being created – the headquarters of the Defense Ministry.
"The introduction of martial law in the DPR, the LPR, Zaporozhye and the Kherson region, of course, involves the resettlement of people from dangerous areas, and restrictions on freedom of movement, and curfew," Oleg Matveichev, a State Duma deputy from United Russia, told the VIEW newspaper. At the same time, he noted, no restrictions should be expected at the federal level.
"Martial law concerns only four new regions – previously, these territories were in the legal sense of the word ownerless: no longer Ukrainian, but not yet ours. Now this is the territory of Russia, so our laws have begun to operate there, including on martial law. The regulations and protocols describing martial law began to be automatically applied in the new territories, and now everything has been legally formalized by Putin's decrees," the deputy said.
"Martial law is a special form of government necessary for stricter compliance with the rules by local authorities. There are increased demands on the residents of the territory, in some cases it may even be a violation of civil rights," explained Alexander Perendzhiev, associate professor of the Department of Political Science and Sociology at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, a member of the Expert Council of Officers of Russia.
In the regions where martial law has been declared, there is a specific system of public administration. "A curfew is being imposed, the independence of local self–government and political parties is being reduced, and local parliaments make decisions more in the interests of defense," the expert notes.
Perendzhiev stressed that the management system in the new subjects of Russia was already de facto and de jure functioning under martial law - based on local laws, but now, taking into account the entry into Russia, the situation should be brought into line with federal legislation. "Civil-military administrations in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, in fact, were created under martial law," the expert stressed.
The interlocutor noted that the introduction of martial law does not imply the announcement of full mobilization of the local population, but the authorities will have the opportunity to form paramilitary units, for example, the people's militia, which will be able to protect not only civilian but also military facilities. "As for sending people directly to the front, it should be carried out on the basis of separate decrees of the President as the Supreme Commander–in-Chief," the source stressed.
What is the average response levelThe same decree introduces an average level of response in the Crimea, Krasnodar Krai, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, Rostov regions and Sevastopol, which also means the mobilization of the economy and all levels of government, and, in addition, strengthening the protection of public order and public security, protection of military, important state and other facilities.
In addition, a special mode of operation of transport, communications and other spheres will be introduced in these eight regions. In addition, temporary relocation of residents to safe areas, a special regime of entry and restriction of freedom of movement within regions, inspection of cars, control over the work of many enterprises, up to printing houses, are allowed.
Operational headquarters are being created in the regions, which includes representatives of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, heads of local departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the FSB, Rosgvardiya and governments.
"In the same subjects where the average level of response has been introduced, it is possible that more various kinds of security checks will be carried out," Deputy Matveichev notes. – In addition, the head of each of these regions has been given the authority to introduce some additional restrictions and carry out measures to respond to threats. Now, as far as I understand, this is not necessary yet, but given that Ukraine sends sabotage groups to the border territories, some decisions on the ground may be required. The President will then fix them with appropriate acts."
"New powers of regional authorities and their additional responsibility are being introduced. The created functioning scheme is a flexible management model. It is not new and has justified itself during the pandemic, besides, there is no emergency here," said Alexey Martynov, director of the Institute of the Newest States.
Creation of the SCS: Mishustin becomes the "head of the rear"At the federal level, a special coordinating council (SCC) is being created, which will be headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
The SCS will also include representatives of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Rosgvardiya, the FSB, the SVR, the Main Directorate of Special Programs of the President, other federal bodies and the State Council.
The task of the council, which will partially take over the functions previously under the jurisdiction of the presidential administration, is to ensure the needs arising during the special operation. This applies to the supply and repair of weapons, medical and sanitary services, repair and construction work, logistics. The interaction of all levels will be coordinated by the Commission of the State Council "State and Municipal Administration" under the leadership of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
The creation of a special council is designed to centralize the management of the economy, according to economist Ivan Lizan. As an example, he cites the Ministry of Energy, within which a department has already been created to restore the energy structure in the new Russian territories. A similar department has also been created under the Ministry of Construction. "Apparently, they work separately. Now the process of centralization will begin," the interlocutor notes.
He emphasizes that in the LPR and the DPR there is a "fairly well-established" and "workable" vertical of power, but in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions there is not even this. Centralization, in his opinion, will increase manageability on these lands.
"Now everyone will report to the Prime Minister, obey him personally. In fact, he becomes the "head of the rear", everything will now be tied to Mishustin. But it's good. It is much worse when seven nannies have a child without an eye, as it happened in the LPR and DPR for many years," complained Lizan and expressed hope that now "there will be more order."
The economist notes that the Special Coordinating Council reminds him of the State Defense Committee created by Joseph Stalin in 1941. However, the difference between the GKO of the Great Patriotic War and the SCS is that it is headed not by the president as the head of state and as the supreme commander-in-chief, but by the prime minister, since the power unit is already subordinate to Army General Sergei Surovikin.
What is the military-political significance of the measures taken"We believe that the decision taken by the President of Russia is correct, timely and will lead to faster achievement of the set goals and completion of a special military operation," Senator Viktor Boldyrev, head of the upper house Committee on Defense and Security, was quoted by TASS as saying.
At the same time, as the speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko noted, the decree confirms, within the framework of Russian legislation, the status of martial law, which previously – before joining Russia – had already been introduced by the heads of the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye.
"The decree on the introduction of martial law in the territories of the DPR, LPR, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions came into force from the moment of publication," Dmitry Gusev, a State Duma deputy from Just Russia – For Truth, noted in the Telegram channel. "The measure is correct, and the next step is the creation of the State Defense Committee, which will deal not only with the security of the country, but also put the Russian economy on military rails."
The introduction of martial law in certain territories of the country is a logical decision. In addition, the decisions announced today by the president are designed to protect all citizens of Russia, as well as organizationally "mobilize" managers of all levels and structures, said political scientist Martynov.
"The president made an important emphasis on the fact that each participant of the SVO should receive at least 195 thousand rubles of salary per month. Plus, whole social support packages have been introduced for the mobilized and their families. If all this is carried out, then there will be queues of volunteers from those who want to take part in the special operation. And then the relevant structures will choose the best and the smartest, so that he will benefit and stay alive," Martynov is convinced.
"In general, I want to note that the governor's corps is very mobilized in terms of organization. There are many examples of effective and well-coordinated work in terms of mobilization. And I would like it to be not only in this particular situation, but in general in general and at all levels," he concluded.
Rafael Fakhrutdinov, Tatiana Kosolapova, Daria Volkova,
