Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation

On October 2, 2018, the President of the Russian Federation signed a Directive on the establishment of the Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation of the President of the Russian Federation (Управления Президента по приграничному сотрудничеству). According to the Directive, the Directorate replaced the Directorate for Social-Economic Cooperation with CIS States and the Republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. With this Directive, the June 25, 2012 Directive No. 893 of the President on the Establishment of the Directorate for Social-Economic Cooperation with CIS States and the Republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia was abolished

On October 2, 2018, Oleg Govorun, who used to be the Head of the Directorate for Social-Economic Cooperation with CIS States and the Republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, was appointed to the position of the Head of the new Directorate. On April 17, 2019, Aleksey Filatov, under the Directive of the President of the Russian Federation, was appointed on the position of the Head of the Directorate of the Cross-Border Cooperation, previously occupying position of the Deputy to Head of the same Directorate. Under the same Directive Govorun resigned. His resignation was announced on April 4.

The Directorate is in charge of Presidential activities with regard to Abkhazia, Tskhinvali Region and Ukraine, as well as with the neighboring countries of Russia, through directives from the President. The competences of the Directorate include:  formulating the main directions of relations with the aforementioned regions and countries, preparing suggestions for joint social-economic programs and projects, coordination of work with public organizations and state structures to formulate complex approaches to the implementation of cross-border cooperation, preparing expert opinions, analytical reports and other materials for the President and the Head of the Presidential Administration within the competencies of the Directorate.

According to the information disseminated in the media, the functions of the Directorate have extended significantly. Apart from Abkhazia, Tskhinvali Region and Ukraine, the Directorate will now be able to work on problems of any “bordering state”. Cross-border cooperation already means additional interactions with Russian subjects, local governments, non-commercial and public organizations 

The creation of the new Directorate was followed by the reduction of the number of employees as well. One of the reasons for this, as stated in the media, is the reduction of funding. Apart from this, there was also talk that working in the old format was not effective and it needed to be reviewed. 

Directorate for Social-Economic Cooperation with CIS States and the Republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

The Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation was created on the basis of the Directorate for Social-Economic Cooperation with CIS States and the Republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which was established on June 9, 2012, with the Directive of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. The first Head of the Directorate was Yuri Voronin, who was a person close with the Assistant of the President in Social Economic Interactions with Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region, Tatyana Golikova. After Golikova left her position, Voronin was also forced to leave. On October 11, 2013, Voronin was replaced by Oleg Govorun, who was considered to be the cadre of Golikova’s successor, Assistant of the President, Vladislav Surkov.

From 2008 to 2013, the leading structure in the Presidential Administration in formulating and implementing Kremlin’s policies towards Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region was the Directorate for Inter-Regional Relations and Cultural Contacts with Foreign Countries. From 2013, the leading structure in the Presidential Administration in formulating and implementing Kremlin’s policies towards Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region became Directorate for Social-Economic Cooperation with CIS States and the Republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.