open the microphone
Last year brought a new format for public meetings held on the street. The governor and participants appreciated it because the only weather disruption came with heavy rain. A backup platform was prepared in advance to guarantee safety, and the communication plan was set based on the forecast. Meetings remained open to all, inviting residents to ask questions. People from the neighborhood carried bright signs to catch the district head’s attention, and the atmosphere was casual yet purposeful.
During a conversation with a traveler, a Yamal resident with firsthand experience of local issues, Artyukhov admitted that in the district’s first tour in 2019, officials mainly collected information for themselves. He recalled telling the department heads, some of whom were resistant to open formats, that everything should be accessible to everyone. The budget often ended up in the main hall, with little space left for spontaneous dialogue. Thus, the street microphone became a symbol of open, unimpeded conversation.
This year, comfort for attendees was a priority. Residents received blankets and hot tea, recognizing that August evenings in Yamal can be chilly, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 15 degrees. Parliament members, district department heads, and municipal officials participated in these sessions, and decisions were made on the spot. The meetings were broadcast on the VKontakte network, where viewers could post comments. Artyukhov called this approach “dialogue without the right to make mistakes.”
One of the main problems
“Roads are our top priority. The plan starts with the quarterly routes where many people travel, especially families with grandchildren. We will also reach the plots,” Artyukhov said during a meeting with Novy Urengoy residents.
Attention to road quality became the focus of the Salekhard-Nadym corridor, a route opened on December 9, 2020, after four seasons of work. It connected western and eastern Yamal and linked the region’s capital to the broader road network. Travel times dropped dramatically compared with the winter route. The presence of federal retail chains in Salekhard helped lower prices. Nevertheless, Nadym-Salekhard repairs continued as planned.
Overall, construction and repair projects cover 173 kilometers of regional roads and 80 kilometers of municipal roads. A broad, coordinated approach to road maintenance began in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, with updates to communications, storm sewers, utility poles, and fencing as part of a wider upgrade to the urban infrastructure.
“Most cities here were built before rainwater systems were common. Urban planning in the 19th century didn’t always account for these networks. Back then, permafrost dominated and the goal was simply to create livable spaces,” Artyukhov explained to a traveler. He noted that any new connection is expensive and can cause significant disruption. “As we dig up central streets, we will close roads for season two while coordinating the replacement of service networks. Planning this requires careful timing because it marks a major event in construction. We are building roads with careful, deliberate intent,” he added.
In Nadym, Artyukhov reviewed progress on the eighth gate repair. The request for assistance came through the Honest Route-2020 program, and the district head continues to monitor the issue. Work has begun to essentially rebuild the road, with slabs removed, backfill installed, and a solid foundation laid for paving. Sidewalks, lighting, drainage for meltwater, and access pockets for nearby facilities will be added. Approximately 2.2 kilometers will be improved, with a contract extending into 2024. While the process faces challenges, including a crowded network of gas pipelines and electrical lines, the goal remains clear: complete the improvements as soon as feasible, ideally in the next season, according to the district leader’s assessment.
While visiting the whites
Housing remains a central topic at meetings with residents and a top priority for the governor’s agenda. The ambitious target is to relocate 1 million square meters of emergency housing by 2025, with substantial progress already achieved. In the first seven months of this year, 1,597 families and more than 4,000 Yamal residents were resettled. Relocation is funded through both federal and regional programs, and the regional plan is adjusted to reflect residents’ preferences. Once residents receive redemption value, they may move anywhere in the country or purchase a home within the district.
During the trip, Artyukhov visited the Vedenkin family, who moved from a dilapidated wooden home in the Mostootryad-93 emergency settlement to a new apartment in Korotchaevo. The governor had met the couple on a previous visit, and by the end of last year the emergency homeowners had moved into a modern flat. He shared a light moment about a meal the family enjoyed, noting that the stewardess served pike and mushroom pizza with belyashi—an unexpectedly tasty treat that underscored the human side of these changes.
Sports, business and casual environment
Rallies have covered topics from sports facility construction and landscaping to business support. In the last three years, 28 sports facilities have become operational in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, with at least 37 more planned over the next three years. Since the federal project Creating a Cozy Urban Environment began, 274 public spaces and 1,126 courtyard areas in Yamal have been transformed. Novy Urengoy will showcase its largest landscape overhaul to mark the city’s 50th anniversary in 2025, with several pleasant surprises prepared for residents.
As part of the Honest Route, based on residents’ proposals, Dmitry Artyukhov and local blogger Dmitry Zhdan visited the Polyarnaya agricultural farm. There they saw fresh vegetables and meat products prepared for sale, with the owner, Mikhail Russu, expressing readiness to supply markets beyond the city. The governor directed the relevant unit to advance this issue, emphasizing district support for local business.
“Ahead is a long journey—about 1,500 kilometers. I will visit 13 settlements, not only cities but villages, to assess construction and road work firsthand. I’ll hold meetings with residents in each location, and the travel program will reflect your wishes—already there are nearly 500 requests,” the governor said, sharing plans via the Telegram channel.