Beglov, Alexander Dmitrievich

Early years. Work in the Soviet period

Alexander Beglov was born on May 19, 1956 in Baku in the family of a military front-line soldier . After graduating from eight classes, Beglov entered the vocational school , then - into the industrial and pedagogical college ^[5] . In the years 1976-1978 he served in the Armed Forces of the USSR ^{[3] [6]} .

After graduating from the Leningrad Institute of Civil Engineering in 1983 with a degree in Industrial and Civil Engineering , he held engineering and management positions in the construction organizations of Leningrad ^[7] . In 1986, he was appointed head of the construction department of the executive committee of the Lensoviet ^{[3] [2]} . In this position, he took part in the aftermath of the 1988 earthquake in the Armenian SSR . Since 1989, he was the head of the sector of the socio-economic department of the Leningrad Regional Committee of the CPSU , a year later - Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of Capital Construction of the Executive Committee of the Lensoviet. In addition, in different periods Beglov was listed in the state of Glavleningradstroy and Glavinzhenerstroy ^[3] . He took part in the construction of the Belaya Stel urban treatment facilities , the Olga treatment facilities and the water pumping station in Rybatskiy , an aluminum construction plant, oversaw housing development in the Kupchino , Rybatskoye, and Dolgoe Lake microdistricts. In addition, he supervised the construction of various special structures in Barnaul , Omsk , Krasnoyarsk , Moscow , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , and the North Caucasus ^{[2] [8]} .

Work in the 1990s

In 1991-1997 he was the chief engineer of the Russian-German company Melazel. Presumably, it was at this time that Beglov met with Vladimir Putin , who at that time served as chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Leningrad City Hall . It was this body that registered the commercial enterprise, although the official himself denied acquaintance with Putin at that time ^{[5] [9]} .

Beglov later worked for two years as a senior research fellow and doctoral candidate at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. In 1999, he was invited to the post of head of the territorial administration of the Resort Administrative Region of St. Petersburg . Under his leadership, they reconstructed Freedom Square in Sestroretsk , erected monuments to Peter I and the creator of the three-line rifle, designer Sergey Mosin , and reconstructed several city fountains. When Beglov began spontaneous development along the shore of Lake Razliv , which caused protests by local residents ^{[10] [11] [2]} .

According to media reports, at different times Beglov also acted as a co-founder of Aerorekord, Ecotech, Baltikstroy, production and transport company Joint, and publishing house Business Partner ^{[12] [4]} .

State activity (2000s)

In 2002, the Governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Yakovlev nominated Beglov for the position of vice-governor - head of the office of the city administration. According to observers, this appointment was a compromise between Yakovlev and the plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwestern Federal District Viktor Cherkesov . There are indications that Sergey Sviridov, deputy envoy for human resources, also requested Beglov’s nomination, although Beglov ’s candidacy was approved only the second time ^{[4] [10]} . Along with administrative activities, Beglov was trained at the North-West Academy of Public Administration , graduating in 2003 ^{[3] [9]} .

In June 2003, after Yakovlev resigned, Beglov temporarily performed his duties. During this period, he pursued an active economic policy, inspecting schools and enterprises, as well as preparing for the heating season. In addition, in June 2003, Beglov was elected Secretary of the regional branch ^{[4] [10]} at a conference of the United Russia party, and five months later he participated in the elections to the State Duma of the fourth convocation . There was a version in the media that Beglov made this decision after losing to Valentina Matvienko in the first round of elections for the post of governor of St. Petersburg , when it became clear that Beglov, who was unable to prepare the right social and political ground for the post of interim , would not be able to get the post of vice governor. The results of United Russia’s election in St. Petersburg were among the lowest in the country, and, according to the BBC Russian service , party leaders considered Beglov responsible for the failure and denied him the opportunity to take the chair of the faction ’s head or chairman of the key committee, and later he refused the mandate ^{[9] [13] [14] [15]} . At the same time, Beglov continued to occupy a leading position in the regional branch of the party until July 2004, during this period the number of branches increased from 700 to 16 thousand people. In November of the same year, Beglov was elected a member of its highest council at the Fifth Congress of "United Russia" ^{[2] [4] [8]} .

After Valentina Matvienko was elected Governor of St. Petersburg in May 2003, Alexander Beglov became First Deputy Plenipotentiary in the Northwestern Federal District. Since May 2004, Beglov served as head of the control department of the Presidential Administration , and four years later he was appointed deputy head of the Presidential Administration under the leadership of Sergei Naryshkin . In October 2005, Beglov became a member of the Presidential Council for the implementation of priority national projects and population policy , and in July 2006 - as part of his presidium. From 2008 to 2011, he headed the board of directors of the Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defense Concern , specializing in the development and production of short, medium and long-range anti-aircraft missile systems ^{[4] [16]} .

State activity (2010s)

After the resignation of Yuri Luzhkov in 2010, Alexander Beglov was called one of the possible candidates for the post of mayor of Moscow , after the resignation of Valentina Matvienko in 2011, he was a candidate for the post of governor of St. Petersburg. But since 2012, Beglov spent five years as presidential plenipotentiary in the Central Federal District . Among other things, during this period he oversaw the preparation of major church holidays at the state level and the restoration of church facilities on Mount Athos ^{[9] [2] [3] [5]} . Throughout his career Beglov led an active social and political activity in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region . He participated in the revival of the Kronstadt Naval Cathedral and the development of the Patriot Park ^{[17] [18]} . On December 25, 2017, Alexander Beglov was appointed plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwestern Federal District ^[19] .

Since 2009, Alexander Beglov heads the Council for Cossacks under the President of the Russian Federation ^[5] . He structured the system of ranks within the community and modernized its functions: Cossacks began to protect state property, take part in dispersal of rallies and patrol the streets, receiving funding from regional budgets ^[9] .

Acting Governor of St. Petersburg

On October 3, 2018, Alexander Beglov was appointed interim governor of St. Petersburg. The day before, the wife and son-in-law of an official who worked in the city government filed for dismissal in order to avoid a conflict of interest ^[20] . Later, on February 18, the Russian president included Alexander Beglov in the Russian Security Council ^[21] .

Beglov’s leadership period is marked by a series of scandals and emergencies. Beglov's main problem as an interim winter of 2019 was snow removal in the city ^[10] . The negligence of urban services and the lack of coordination of their work led to a critical situation ^{[22] [23]} . According to the Health Committee, from January 1 to March 13, 3,755 people received various injuries due to ice, 91 people fell due to falling snow and ice from the roofs, one person died ^[24] . During the campaign to increase Beglov’s rating among the townspeople, a number of demonstration events were held, which were actively covered by publications loyal to the authorities. Demonstrative subbotniks and actions, as well as the activity of pro-government provocateurs on social networks, became one of the reasons for distrust of the authorities and negative attitude to the actions of the acting governor ^{[10] [25] [26]} . For example, the townspeople actively ridiculed the Beglov’s spade action when an official handed out signed snow shovels to his wards ^{[27] [23]} . In January 2019, Beglov controlled repair work on the broken pipeline on Bolshevikov Avenue , which left 485 houses without heating. Later, the accident repeated twice, and the people nicknamed the pipeline “Beglov’s pipe” ^{[10] [28]} . The discontent of the townspeople also caused the initial inaction of the interim governor in the situation with the construction of residential neighborhoods in close proximity to the Pulkovo Observatory , which could interfere with astronomical observations. The decision to reduce the area of ​​a private residential complex was made only after the appeal of a group of deputies, a wave of solitary pickets and mass media coverage. Subsequently, Alexander Beglov participated in the discussion of the development prospects of the observatory ^{[10] [29] [30]} .

In addition, Beglov’s period as interim governor was marked by the violent dispersal of the May Day demonstration . Opposition from law enforcement agencies was faced by a democratic column, which was represented by supporters of the politician Alexei Navalny , the parties Yabloko and Fair Russia , the movement Observers of St. Petersburg, and participants in the Perpetual Protest ^{[31] [32]} . According to OVD-Info , 68 people were detained for shares ^[33] . The reason for the arrests and aggressive actions of the police Alexander Beglov called the insulting slogans of the opposition ^{[34] [23]} .

In April 2019, at the request of Beglov, the Russian president approved a project for a high-speed railway between St. Petersburg and Moscow worth 1.5 trillion rubles. Also, Vladimir Putin allocated 150 million rubles from the Reserve Fund for the development of the blockade museum , 10.6 million for the purchase of 24 kindergartens, 4 schools, 16 health facilities from private developers. Under Beglov’s beginning, the construction of the Supreme Court complex on the site of the “ embankment of Europe ” was frozen for the subsequent conversion of the site into a park zone. With the participation of the interim governor, the Ministry of Natural Resources decided to adopt the Krasny Bor toxic waste landfill on the federal balance. At the initiative of the official, it is planned to introduce a tourist tax fee in St. Petersburg, in May a “St. Petersburg card” was launched, combining a card for salaries and pensions, a travel card for all types of transport, medical insurance policy and other ^{[35] [36] [37] [38] [39]} .

Alexander Beglov carried out significant personnel changes in the power structures: some vice-governors, chairmen of committees and district heads who worked with former governor George Poltavchenko , including vice-governors Igor Albin and Mikhail Mokretsov, were dismissed . Among the reasons for the massive reduction are named, in particular, poor-quality snow and ice removal ^{[23] [25]} . Many media outlets note the churching of Alexander Beglov, but some publications indicate the indicative and opportunistic nature of the official’s attitude towards the Russian Orthodox Church . In particular, this is indicated by the fact that it was Beglov who refused to transfer the St. Isaac's Cathedral to the Church in favor of the Russian Orthodox Church ^{[9] [40]} .

Campaign for the election of the governor of St. Petersburg

On May 25, 2019, Alexander Beglov announced his intention to run for governor of St. Petersburg as a self-nominated person ^[25] . Presumably, Beglov decided not to accentuate his membership in United Russia because of the low rating of the party. In the course of further debates, the official declared his non-partisanship , and his biography was deleted from the party’s website without further comment ^[41] .

Beglov’s campaign headquarters was co- chaired by the chairman of the Veterans Council Vasily Volobuev, Zenit head coach Sergey Semak , director of the Peterhof Museum Reserve Elena Kalnitskaya , director of the UEC-Klimov joint-stock company Alexander Vatagin and chairman of the Public Council for the Development of Small Business in St. Petersburg Elena Tsereteli ^[42] . Journalists note the participation in the campaign of political strategists associated with businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin , who allegedly planned to strengthen his media and political influence ^[43] . In the period from October 2018 to January 2019 alone, over a thousand positive news about Alexander Beglov was published through the media included in the Media Factory . Эти же структуры причастны к вышедшему в ноябре 2018 года мультиплицированному ролику о «бескомпромиссном дяде Саше». Одновременно политтехнологов Беглова обвиняли в фальсификации подписей, использовании интернет-ботов и фейковой рекламе конкурентов ^{[43] [23]} . После обрушения крыши шестиэтажного корпуса Института точной механики и оптики отдельные СМИ сообщали, что Александр Беглов лично вывел из-под завалов преподавательницу вуза Наталью Серебрянскую, что оказалось неправдой ^{[44] [45]} . Отдельную роль в избирательной кампании Беглова играет его заместитель Любовь Совершева, обладающая значительным влиянием на городские СМИ ^[46] . Кроме того, журналисты отмечают причастность бизнесмена Юрия Ковальчука , которому принадлежит « Национальная Медиа Группа », активно освещающая в положительном ключе деятельность врио. В результате Беглов стал самым цитируемым из глав регионов России. Тем не менее из-за падения рейтинга чиновника с февраля предвыборную кампанию курируют политтехнологическая компания «ИМА-Консалтинг» и представители Администрации президента под руководством Андрея Ярина ^{[6] [47] [44] [48]} .

В ходе избирательной кампании Александра Беглова неоднократно обвиняли в нарушениях. Так, в июне 2019 на 59 станциях метрополитена организовали сбор подписей в поддержку Беглова, несмотря на запрет любой агитации на территории подземки. Представители избирательного штаба Беглова сослались на отсутствие нарушений федерального законодательства , но в результате общественного недовольства руководство метрополитена предоставило подобную возможность другим кандидатам ^{[49] [50]} . Ещё в январе 2019 в центре города под видом социальной рекламы бесплатно транслировали ролики, в которых освещалась деятельность Беглова на посту врио губернатора, в августе подобные ролики стали транслировать в детских поликлиниках ^{[51] [23]} . Неоднократно поступала информация о сборе подписей на рабочих местах или с использованием должностного положения ^{[52] [53]} : региональный штаб Алексея Навального заявлял о фальсификации подписных листов за выдвижение врио губернатора в администрации Выборгского района ^[54] , о принудительном сборе подписей и агитации сообщали работники различных бюджетных организаций и студенты ^{[55] [56] [47]} . В предвыборном штабе Беглова подобные методы отрицали, и 29 июня врио губернатора сдал необходимые подписные листы ^[57] . На избирательную кампанию Беглову пожертвовали 42 компании на общую сумму 28 млн рублей, часть из этих компания является крупными подрядчиками исполнительной власти города ^[58] .

The election program, published on August 2 on the candidate’s official website, consists of four theses: “comfortable city”, “social city”, “smart city”, and “open city”. The program provides for the simplification of the interaction of society with government structures: the projects “Native District” and “Your Budget”, the improvement of the “Our Petersburg” portal and feedback systems in social networks. In the social sphere, it was announced the construction of 17 clinics, 112 kindergartens and 40 schools, the launch of the "Social Precinct Services", the services of the "Social Nanny", the improvement of more than 500 public facilities, etc. According to the plans, by 2025 it is planned to increase the city's transport park by 3 thousand buses, 800 metro cars, 500 trams and 28 high-speed trains; it is planned to launch two new Chizhik tram routes and open new metro stations . Under the 35/35 program, Beglov plans to increase the share of young officials to 35% ^{[59] [60] [61]} . Three days before the election, the opening ceremony of the three stations of the Frunzensko-Primorskaya metro line was held , but they were closed to passengers ^[62] .

According to VTsIOM , by the summer of 2019, Beglov's rating remained the highest among the candidates - 55%. Although, according to the head of the Open Russia organization Andrei Pivovarov , associate professor of the Department of Political Psychology at St. Petersburg State University Alexander Confisakhor and a number of media outlets, this figure is overstated ^{[47] [63]} . At the same time, the same VTsIOM fixes that Beglov has the lowest rating among temporarily acting heads of regions, with an anti-rating of 24%. Despite this, Beglov’s victory is spoken of as highly probable due to the absence of “real competitors” in the election ^{[38] [64]} , especially after the departure of the main rival, Vladimir Bortko ^[65] .

On Unified Voting Day , September 8, 2019, he won by 64.46% in the first round of the election of the Governor of St. Petersburg. His term of office will end in 2024 ^[66] .

Scientific activity

In 1993, Beglov defended his thesis "Stability of reinforced concrete elements from the plane of bending", receiving the degree of candidate of technical sciences ^[2] .

In 2011, Beglov published 41 scientific papers on the Cossacks, including 5 monographs ^{[67] [68]} . According to the expert of Dissernet Anna Abalkina, “a rare scientist can boast of such publication activity” ^[9] . In 2012, Beglov became a doctor of economic sciences, defending his doctoral dissertation on the topic “Management of agricultural production in Cossack communities as a potential for sustainable socio-economic development of regions” at Moscow State University of Technology and Management (MGUTU) ^[69] .

In 2019, the Dissernet community accused Beglov of “unformed borrowings and incorrect quoting,” indicating that five scientific articles published a year before the defense of the doctoral dissertation contained unformed extracts from the text of V.P. Trut’s dissertation “Cossacks of Russia in the Period revolutions of 1917 and at the initial stage of the civil war ”and books by the same author“ Dear glory and loss. Cossack troops during the period of wars and revolutions ” ^{[69] [70]} . Publications were signed by the same email address that signed the work on the nooscope by Anton Vaino , now the head of the presidential administration . The Dissernet believes that this address belongs to Fyodor Sterlikov, well known for accompanying fake dissertations ^[68] . In response to the allegations, the rector of the Moscow State Technical University and the scientific consultant Beglova Valentina Ivanova said that no violations in the design were found ^{[71] [72] [73]} . Nevertheless, the scientist and politician Sergey Tsyplyaev spoke about this situation as follows: “... if he [Beglov] is able to put his signature on other people's works, then he cannot be trusted with a ruble, especially the city of Petersburg” ^[74] .

The declared annual income of Alexander Beglov for 2017 amounted to 6.9 million rubles ^[3] . At the same time, the total declared income of the official’s family in 2017 exceeded 22 million rubles. The family owns 3 cars, 11 apartments and land plots with a total area of ​​more than 5 thousand m² ^[75] . Journalists and investigators noted that Beglov had four Swiss watches with an estimated value of 19 million rubles: two Breguet , Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe ^{[76] [77] [78]} .

At the end of August 2019, the “ Anti-Corruption Fund ” by Alexei Navalny drew attention to Beglov’s Moscow apartment in Kazarmenny Lane , 150 m² were estimated at 150 million rubles, that is, the approximate income of the whole family for 5 years. In a response statement, Beglova’s press service noted that the apartment was purchased for 16.5 million in 2005, still under construction and with money from previous business activities. After Novaya Gazeta , it published material indicating that the apartment appeared in the Rosreestr base only in 2013 - 4 years after the completion of the house; In addition, Beglov did not declare it until 2018. Finally, according to the publication, Beglov’s income until 1999 (the year he began working in the civil service) was insufficient to buy such real estate ^[79] .

• Wife - Natalia Vladimirovna Beglova was born on November 12, 1955 in the village of Belaya Glina of the Krasnodar Territory . From 2004 to 2018, she headed the Committee on Civil Registration. In 2009, she was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland , II degree, and also defended the dissertation of a candidate of economic sciences at Moscow University of Technology and Management. According to the publication Moika78, she is "one of the most wealthy officials of Smolny by the number of real estate." So, as of 2013, her property included: two land plots with a total area of ​​more than 1700 m², half the share of a residential building with an area of ​​242 m², three apartments and two cars ^{[80] [75]} .

• The eldest daughter, Yulia Beglova, from 2011 to 2017, was the head of the legal department of the Committee for Culture of St. Petersburg. Her husband, Pavel Aleksandrovich Belov, graduated from the PF Lesgaft St. Petersburg Academy of Physical Culture and the North-West Academy of Public Administration , was fond of acrobatic rock and roll in his youth and worked as a dance teacher. From 2008 to 2012 he worked in the commercial department of the Zenit football club, from 2012 to 2016 he was the deputy chairman, from September 2016 to October 2018, the chairman of the Committee for Physical Culture and Sports of St. Petersburg. For 2019 - Deputy General Director of Gazprom Transgaz St. Petersburg. He has a class rank of the actual state adviser of St. Petersburg of the 2nd class. In 2018, he was awarded the badge of honor “For a Special Contribution to the Development of St. Petersburg” ^{[81] [80] [75] [9]} .

• The youngest daughter, Olga Kudryashova, has been working as an assistant professor at the Department of Constitutional Law at St. Petersburg State University since 2009. She also owns a 9% stake in Lombard Leninsky 91. Her husband, Stanislav Kudryashov, owns a controlling stake in Vasileostrovsky Pawnshop ^[75] .

For social and political activities, Alexander Beglov was awarded the rank of Acting State Advisor of the Russian Federation, Class I (assigned December 20, 2004) ^[82] . He was also awarded a number of state and public awards:

• Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" III degree (2012) ^[83]
• Order “For Merit to the Fatherland”, IV degree (May 19, 2006) - for his great contribution to the strengthening and development of the state control system and many years of conscientious work ^{[84] [3]}

• Honored Builder of the Russian Federation (March 15, 2004) - for merits in the field of construction and many years of conscientious work ^{[85] [3]}
• Order of the Holy Right Prince Daniel of Moscow, I degree ( ROC ; 2011) - in consideration of the help of the Russian Orthodox Church and in connection with the 55th anniversary of his birth ^[86]
• Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, I degree (ROC; 2013) - in consideration of the works on the restoration of the Kronstadt Naval Cathedral ^{[87] [9]}
• Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, I degree (ROC; July 18, 2014) - in consideration of the assistance provided to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra ^[88]

The ambiguous reaction was caused by statements about Russia's most important priorities, which he voiced as ambassador, as well as the intention to turn St. Petersburg into a "patriotic capital", which he spoke of as the provisional governor ^[89] . Beglov was also reminded of the selective attitude towards journalists - many media outlets noted that Beglov ignored representatives of the “disloyal” press ^{[48] [2] [25]} .

Beglov’s conflict with the deputy of the city Legislative Assembly Maxim Reznik , who openly declared a negative attitude towards Beglov’s candidacy for governor, received wide publicity. The conflict occurred at a meeting of the Legislative Assembly, which Beglov left without answering his opponent. He later stated that Reznik “spoke out and said that the city must be surrendered to the Nazis .” In response, the deputy filed a lawsuit to protect honor and dignity, which was rejected. Later, journalists reported on the persecution of the deputy in the media associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin ^{[25] [9]} .

During the election campaign, Beglov’s entire previous career was discussed in the media. In particular, journalists note a case of installing out of turn and at the state expense of a mounted elevator in 2009 in the house where the Beglov family lived, as well as incidents with unfair parking ^{[14] [80] [90]} .

• Биография Александра Беглова на сайте президента России
• Официальный сайт кандидата в губернаторы Санкт-Петербурга Александра Беглова