Viktor Zubkov, the former mayor of Saint Petersburg in Russia, on June, 28, 2005. Photographer: Viktor Chernov/ Bloomberg News
Russia has it's trouble with corruption and I am confident Mr. Zubkov has been ruling that 'clean-up' with an iron fist. Of course with financial corruption comes a lot of 'racketeering' and Moscow's crime rate has been climbing.
Of course President Putin came to his post within Russia in 1999 taking much the same route as soon to be Prime Minister Zubkov. President Putin was a member of the Committee of External Relations as did PM to be. Zubkov and Putin are rather cozy, he was Deputy Chair while Putin was the leadership of the Committee. Interestingly, while President Putin was born and raised near Europe in Saint Petersburg (once Leningrad), the PM to be Zubkov has aquired most of his leadership skills in the region of St. Petersburg, in the State Tax office, Mayor's Office and the Agricultural sector. Good buddies I would characterize as the relationship between Zubkov and Putin. More than likely they share a great deal of charasmatic traits in regard to the cultural demands of Russian society.
Somewhat troubling is a change in leadership in taking away a Prime Minister that was also of Jewish lineage and culture. I can't be sure, but, with coming elections and what might be a leaning of a Prime Minister to heritage instead of national sovereignty, perhaps Putin felt a bit uncomfortable with the prospect of a Russia President with cultural ties to Israel. Just a guess. It goes a little be more than 'curious' about that aspect as there has been increasingly stronger ties between the Arab nationsand Russia; 'with that' an increasing verbosity regarding disfavoring Israel for it's policies in the region. Just a point of contention that I am sure will dissolve with proven leadership by a new face and name at the top of Russian government.
At any rate, I believe the new Prime Minister has some very interesting experience in handling the fiscal disruptions of former oligarchs and their continued ripple effect across national secruity issues that beset many areas of Russian cities. One thing though, where I would expect President Putin's KGB experience to make up for what Mr. Zubkov would bring there will probably be a change in 'strategy' against the corruption that besets Russia. Rather than the covert approach that has been less than a good strategy for the current Russian President, perhaps the fiscal aspect the Mr. Zubkov brings will show more success in depriving the corrupt violence of Russia cities their source of income and munitons. I wish him a great deal of luck in bringing safer streets to not just St. Petersburg, but, Moscow as well.
Needless to say, Mr. Zubkov has his eye on the EU and treaties there as well as with NATO. It will be interesting his focus as he establishes a Prime Minister's backbone looking to be Russian President.
I am sure we will learn more about the soon to be Prime Minister Zubkov and his directives for Russia. He is a handsome man and carries a degree of charisma to the people of Russia. Russians have come to enjoy a great deal of knowledge about the personality of their current President and he has not shied away from that attention, as it handily brought him a great deal of approval of his country.
