Page 62 - RusRPTSept19

investment should increase by more than 6% to meet the national target of 25% of GDP by 2024. By 2024, regions should also halve the number of people living below the poverty line and increase labor productivity by 5%. Experts have criticized some of the more detailed assessment criteria published in July as too narrow, leading to a focus on individual indicators rather than actual development.
Instead of economic development, however, confidence in the central government (including the president) has been raised, revealing political stability and loyalty to the central government. Constitutionally, Russia is a federal state, but in practice the power structure is very centralized. The governor's election was reinstated in 2012, but it is standard practice for the Kremlin to dismiss unhelpful governors before the election and to appoint a replacement with virtually guaranteed victory.
62 RUSSIA Country Report September 2019 www.intellinews.com