Blogosphere actively reacts to Khloponin's interview

After publication of the interview of Alexander Khloponin, Russian President's Plenipotentiary in the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD), which he gave to the "Caucasian Knot" and "Gazeta.ru", a number of politicians and businessmen launched an online polemics with him. The blogosphere also could not remain indifferent to Mr Khloponin's statements.

Let us remind you that his interview was published on April 12. The Plenipotentiary answered many questions related to the situation in Northern Caucasus and its development, and shared his vision of the regional problems.

In the opinion of Turkhan Makhmudov, director of the network of advertising agencies BBDO Russian Group, launching a united brand for agricultural products of Northern Caucasus will not fully solve all the problems of regional farmers.

"It's a useful but an auxiliary idea. It won't solve the problem of brand competition at the federal level, since strong brands need constant targeted support, while it can be such only for specific products, not for the entire region. It will not help small farms, because they have no chances to organize distribution of their products beyond the region," said Mr Makhmudov in his interview to the "Rosbalt".

The blogger muslim-ru.livejournal.com, a graduate of the Islamic University, criticizes the words of Alexander Khloponin about control of all the students of Islamic schools abroad.

The user random-90 doubts the prospects of returning Russian population back to Northern Caucasus. "Not a single Russian specialist will come back. They will come on business trips or as shift workers, but not for permanent residence. All specialists have left, when it was possible; only those who have problems stay here. If it were easy to settle in Russia, they'd have all left," the user said in his post under the short version of Khloponin's interview, published by the "Gazeta.ru".

The reader sandybax favoured the idea of building a tourist concept of Northern Caucasus on the uniqueness and authenticity of the region. 'You have a chic Caucasus with its... professional wildness...' In my opinion, it was well said; and honestly. Extreme tourism is a good thing. I've heard that even in Somalia they organized safari tours - for huge money, by the way. And after safari they have spa. It's quite a sound idea. If people can afford to stay in this region, ensure guarding, rifles, active tactical entertainments, then, the Armani spa is the minimum, for which such person may hope for. Well done!" the reader noted in his post on the "Gazeta.ru".

Alexander Khloponin's interview has also caused many comments of the readers of those editions, which republished or quoted it.

"The economy of the region should be developed in a totally different format! Take federal money and create federal enterprises, where locals will be employed DIRECTLY, by bypassing local 'distributors'! Not so important what and under what brand you're going to make there; it's important in WHAT ORGANIZATIONAL FORMAT you'll do it," wrote user Rus268, while commenting on the material "Northern Caucasus will come up with united agricultural brand", published by the "Lenta.ru".

The topic of non-targeted use of federal investments attracted the attention of the reader of the same edition under the nickname Chechenec. "There are farmers with their harvesters; there are fields and factories, cafes and restaurants; there are medium and small businesses; however, your donations go into pockets of bureaucrats or to maintain the huge staff of the NCFD Plenipotentiary's office," wrote the Chechenec.