24 Dec 2018 13:10

Khabarovsk has every chance to be federal city - governor

KHABAROVSK. Dec 24 (Interfax) - The Khabarovsk territorial authorities will ask for a federal status of the Khabarovsk city now that the administrative center of the Far Eastern Federal District has been moved to Vladivostok, Governor Sergei Furgal said at a press conference on Monday.

"We will draft a program and ask the federal authorities for granting us the status of a federal city. This [status] has to be earned. Khabarovsk has every chance to become such, and this chance is higher than one of any other city in the Far East," Furgal said.

In his words, the goal can be achieved with relevant dynamics of the city's development.

The administrative center of the Far Eastern Federal District has been moved to Vladivostok, but some federal agencies will continue their presence in Khabarovsk, Furgal said. The Emergency Situations Ministry and the Defense Ministry will broaden their presence in the region, and the Russian Investigative Committee plans to open its school in Khabarovsk.

President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order on December 13 on relocating the administrative center of the Far Eastern Federal District from Khabarovsk to Vladivostok. The head of the presidential administration was ordered to make relevant arrangements.