Maksim Smirnov

Head of the Division of Budget Investments and Investment Support to the Republic of South Ossetia of the Department for Special Programs and Projects of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation

Professional Career

• In February 2015, after the appointment of Anton Melnik as the Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs, Smirnov was appointed as the Deputy Director of the same department and the Head of the Division for Interaction with the Republic of South Ossetia.
• On January 21, 2020, by a decree of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs was abolished. Its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Economic Development. Anton Melnik was appointed as the Deputy Director of the Department for Special Programs and Projects of the Ministry of Economic Development, after which Smirnov was appointed as the Head of the Division of Budget Investments and Investment Support to the Republic of South Ossetia of the Department for Special Programs and Projects.

Relations with the Tskhinvali Region

• On August 23, 2021, issues of the socio-economic development of the Tskhinvali region were discussed with a Russian delegation. A meeting on providing financial assistance for the socio-economic development of the Tskhinvali region discussed the implementation of the investment program and the so-called “harmonization of customs legislation.” The Russian delegation was chaired by Vitaly Gudin, the Director of the Department for Special Programs and Projects of the Ministry of Economic Development. The delegation comprised of the Deputy Director of the Department for Special Programs and Projects of the Ministry of Economic Development, Anton Melnik, and Smirnov. On August 24, the Russian delegation visited projects under construction in Tskhinvali and Kvaisa.
• On June 23, 2022, the de facto Prime Minister of the Tskhinvali region, Konstantin Jusoev, hosted a Russian delegation headed by Vitaliy Gudin, the Director of the Department for Special Programs and Projects of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development. Members of the delegation were Anton Melnik and Smirnov. The meeting discussed the development of the 2020-2022 investment program and the formation of the 2023-2025 investment program.