The Legislative Duma of Tomsk Oblast


December 24, 2007 - Presentation of the English-language official site version in the State Duma of Tomsk Oblast.


Boris Maltsev, a chairman of the State Duma of Tomsk Oblast started the presentation.
- This year in September it has been 5 years since that moment we opened a forum on our site. About 4000 messages are left here by its users every month. It’s a very important resource for our deputies’ work. I can’t imagine any other technology where we can get such a variety of censorialless opinions.
During 7 years of its existence the Oblast Duma site is one of the most popular in Tomsk Oblast. By the index of citing it is on the 13d position in the rating of the Legislative Assemblies sites of the Russian Federation. It leaves far behind 120 Russian and ex-USSR countries’ sites. Quite a number of foreigners are among more than 40 000 month visitors of the State Duma site of Tomsk Oblast.
The English version site creator - a director of LLC “Simex-T” Igor Blatt noted that 6 Legislative Assemblies of the subjects of the Russian Federation have English version sites.
- We looked through all 6 regional parliament sites in English and understood we had to make more complete version. I’m sure we have a lot of things to work at, but we are going to improve the resource further.
Nelli Krechetova, a head of the international and regional links department of the Tomsk Oblast Administration noted, that only in 2007 the ambassadors from 5 foreign states: the USA, Great Britain, Israel, Japan, Netherlands visited Tomsk. All these illustrate that Tomsk oblast is of great interest for international collaboration. The main factors which formulated such interest are: 1) a summit of two governments’ heads (Germany and Russia) held in 2006; 2) Tomsk Special Economic Zone of Technical Innovation Type. N. Krechetova emphasized, that a lot of people learn about Tomsk oblast due to the Internet. That’s why it’s great to make an English-language site of the Tomsk Oblast State Duma.
Sergei Kirpotin, a pro-rector of the international relations in Tomsk State University thinks that English-language version of the Oblast Duma site is an important step in the international relations development.
- In spite of remarkable success of our country on the international scene, stable situation in Russia itself, we are participants of the world processes. In connection with it the necessity of such product creation is evident. I’m sure, this site will be popular.
Savelyi Volfson, a chief of the International relations department of the faculty of history of Tomsk State University suggested thinking of the content expansion of the English site version. In particular, he suggested placing the texts of standard-legal documents of Tomsk oblast in English. It will attract the attention of foreign businessmen, potential investors.
A member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation - a representative from the State Duma of Tomsk Oblast Vladimir Zhidkikh noted the creation of the English version site of the Oblast Duma is a positive event and very necessary.
- The Oblast parliament opens its information doors for all people who live in other countries. Being abroad and talking to our foreign colleagues, we clearly understand, there is shortage of information about Tomsk and people who live here.
A Tomsk businessman and an active participant of the site forum of the Oblast Duma Yuriy Lirmak thanked the Duma’s leaders for the site creation, where people of different views can communicate virtually and tell their opinions without censures. Y. Lirmak emphasized that the English site version is a natural phenomenon. However, there was some criticism, that’s why the site creators should improve its quality.

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