"Crimea has come a long way in recent years"
The implementation of plans for the development of the Azov-Black Sea region, outlined by Vladimir Putin, will open up huge prospects for further strengthening cooperation between Crimea and Kherson, Zaporizhia and other regions of southern Russia, the head of the republic Sergey Aksenov told Izvestia. In particular, he noted that the construction of new roads bypassing Krasnodar has a positive effect on the growth of tourist traffic and opens up prospects for the successful completion of the 2025 season. Despite pressure from the West, Crimea has been able to expand international relations, including with Latin America. Cooperation with Belarus is particularly dynamic. Sergey Aksyonov spoke about the development of the peninsula and the tasks facing its leadership in an interview with Izvestia.
"Crimea and Novorossiya have been developing as a single economic complex for two and a half centuries"
— In 2022, Russia has four new regions, two of them are neighbors of Crimea. Do you see this as an opportunity for the peninsula and the implementation of new interregional projects?
— Crimea and Novorossiya have been developing as a single economic complex for almost two and a half centuries. Therefore, the restoration of broken ties is a process that benefits both Crimea and our neighbors. Cooperation is going on in all directions. These include logistics, industry, construction, agriculture, the social sphere, and assistance in matters related to integration. For example, Crimea has become an important market for agricultural producers in the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions. Many Crimeans work in historical regions, including in government agencies. And the implementation of the plans for the development of the Azov-Black Sea region, which were outlined by the President, will open up great prospects for further strengthening cooperation between Crimea, Kherson region, Zaporizhia and other southern regions.
— At the end of February, Vladimir Putin instructed to develop freight and passenger railway services connecting the central part of the Russian Federation and Crimea through new territories. The government will prepare a report to the President by March 31. How will the development of this transport link affect the lives of Crimeans? What will this do for the republic?
— This will provide convenient communication with the cities of the Azov-Black Sea region — Taganrog, Mariupol, Berdyansk, Melitopol. There will be additional opportunities for moving goods by rail. Now they are being delivered via the Crimean Bridge. The new railway route simplifies logistics links for industrial and agricultural enterprises located in the northern part of the peninsula. The running time of long-distance trains heading to Crimea will be reduced. In short, there are a lot of advantages.
— Crimea has always been famous for its tourism potential. How many tourists is the republic ready to receive in the summer season?
— Today there are all prerequisites for a successful completion of the 2025 season. For example, the number of bookings for the upcoming May holidays has increased by more than a third compared to last year. The average booking rate, as of the beginning of March, was more than 40%, but the load is higher in a number of top hotels. Early booking campaigns up to autumn, various promotions and programs with discounts of up to 50% offered by Crimean hoteliers also play an important role. Another positive factor is the improvement of logistics, primarily the construction of new roads bypassing Krasnodar, across historical regions, which significantly reduces travel time. As for the specific figures, I think it's too early to make predictions.
— Is Crimea able to develop international contacts, taking into account the current situation in the world?
— It's working. For example, three full—format agreements are currently being implemented - with the Vitebsk region of the Republic of Belarus, the republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We continue to work within the framework of the agreement with Nicaragua.
Crimean cities, primarily Yalta, Simferopol, and Feodosia, are actively developing twinning ties. Recently, a delegation of the Republic visited Latin America, where two protocols of intent were signed between the Governments of our republic and the Venezuelan state of La Guaira, as well as between the administrations of the cities of Yalta and La Guaira.
I would like to emphasize the high dynamics in the Belarusian direction. It already accounts for over a third of the trade turnover in the foreign economic activity of our republic.
People's diplomacy remains one of the key tools for expanding international relations. There are clubs of friends of Crimea in more than 50 countries around the world, and the International Association of Friends of Crimea (IADC) is actively working. Our friends and partners in both friendly and unfriendly countries are doing a lot of work to spread the truth about the Russian Crimea.
Despite the attempts of our enemies to intimidate the members of the MADC, especially in Western countries, with personal sanctions and prohibitions, we see that there is a steadily growing interest in developing cooperation with our peninsula in the world. And the association contributes to this.
"By 2030, we plan to reach the figure of 10 million tourists per year"
— You have been heading the republic since 2014, when Crimea and Sevastopol returned to the Russian Federation. A lot has been done over the years, but which areas are still "sagging"? Has it been possible to finally integrate the region into the legal, economic, and business space of Russia? What tasks remain for the regional government?
— Crimea has come a long way in recent years. There are positive changes in all areas. But there are enough problems.
For example, due to logistical constraints, the volume of tourist traffic has decreased. Last year, 6.06 million tourists visited the republic. Which, of course, is much less than in the record 2021, when the region received 9.5 million tourists. But it is 16.3% more than in 2023. Today, Crimea remains one of the most popular destinations for recreation and recreation for Russians. The modernization of the industry continues, and major investment projects are being implemented. I am sure that after achieving its goals and restoring air traffic, our peninsula will set new tourist records. By 2030, we plan to reach the figure of 10 million tourists per year.
There was a "subsidence" in the banking sector, however, after the arrival of major financial market players in Crimea — Sberbank, PSB, VTB — the situation leveled off. There are also no major mobile operators on the peninsula. Lifting roaming restrictions is an important step in resolving this issue.
Another problematic area is export. It is clear that under the conditions of sanctions, Crimea cannot fully realize its export potential. Nevertheless, today Crimean products are supplied not only to neighboring countries, but also to China, the United Arab Emirates, and even Brazil. This is largely the result of the implementation of state support measures for exporters.
If we talk about the integration processes, they are generally completed. There are still some issues, for example, with the re-registration of property rights to property objects. The validity of documents issued during the Ukrainian period has been extended for today.
As for our strategic goals, they are outlined by the President. The main tasks include ensuring the security of Crimea, improving the standard of living of Crimeans, fulfilling social obligations to citizens, and continuing to modernize infrastructure — from engineering, transport, and utilities to social.
In 2024, most of the planned programs and activities have been completed. The level of budget disbursement is the highest in 10 years — 99.7%. At the same time, all government tasks have been completed by 100%. We hope that the pace of development will at least continue this year.
— What are the goals set by the Crimean leadership this year?
— Special attention will be paid to the implementation of new national projects, as well as the fulfillment of the instructions of the head of state. These include the construction of exits from the Tavrida highway to the seashore, social gasification, and the continuation of repairs to coastal defenses affected by the disaster in November 2023.
The construction, repair and modernization of educational and healthcare facilities will also continue. Among the major projects to be implemented in the near future are the construction of the Golden Sands of Russia tourist complex in the Yevpatoria city district, three ecotechnoparks in the Saksky, Belogorsky, and Leninsky districts, the Martovsky reservoir in the Bakhchisarai district, and Solnechnogorsk near Alushta.
— In fact, exactly one year ago you met with Vladimir Putin. The Head of State then drew your attention to the need for an increase in the incomes of Crimeans. How has the situation changed over the year and how much have revenues increased?
— The real incomes of the population as a whole in the republic increased by 7.4% in 2024. The average in Russia is by 8.4%. In other words, we are 1% behind, but not as significantly as in 2023. Let me remind you that a year ago, the real incomes of Crimeans increased by only 2.6%, which is 2.5 times less than the national average, where the growth was 6.5%.
Over the past year, the average salary in the republic increased by 16.2% and amounted to more than 54.4 thousand rubles. Growth is higher in the real sector of the economy: manufacturing and construction grew by 18.1%, transport by 17.9%, and trade by 19.3%.
So there is still a lot of work in this area. We continue to carry out the president's instructions.
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