Mikhail Skoblionok – about Yakov Geller: ‘Yasha is a politically streamlined person…’
There are many Jews in Kazan, but the situation in the government of Tatarstan is different
The discussion on the invitation of Jews to Russia, which was started by the head of the Jewish National and Cultural Autonomy of Tatarstan Mikhail Skoblionok, is continued on pages of Realnoe Vremya. This time, he answers the director general of the Agency of the State Procurement, Investment and Interregional Relations of the Republic of Tatarstan Yakov Geller, who expressed another point of view in dispute. Skoblionok notes the difference of positions of two high-ranking Jews of Tatarstan.
It's apples and oranges
I've read Yakov Geller's text and talked to him about this topic.
I was speaking about whether Jews would go to Russia. What is he talking about? About people's friendship. I have not mentioned anything about people's friendship: what friends one has, and who has grown up with. It's apples and oranges.
Where will Jew go?
I will say once again: the salary level in Russia doesn't correspond to neither the European salary level nor the American, nor the Israeli. Who will accept our low salary and our low ruble? It is what I was talking about, not people's friendship.
Jew goes somewhere in two cases. Firstly, Jew goes to a place where he or she might make money. Secondly, Jew goes to a place where life is normal and there will be a good attitude to him or her. These are two components of the Jewish life. Will the European Jews go to Russia?
They will go to a place where salaries are high and life is quiet. These components don't refer to the Russian Federation.
What about the Russian government? The PM Dmitry Medvedev, his Deputy Arkady Dvorkovich; they are members of the government. Photo: theins.ru
Understanding of government
As for the Jews represented in the government of Tatarstan. We probably have a different understanding of governmental levels. The Aide to Tatarstan President on issues of parks and squares – is it a government? I don't think that Yakov Geller is in the composition of the government.
We should clearly know who members of a government are. Are these above-mentioned people members of the government?
In general, there are many Jews in Kazan, but the situation in the government of Tatarstan is different. I don't see the members of the government in Tatariya. He enumerates people who are close to the government, which is not the same thing. To be in a government and to be close to it are different things.
What about the Russian government? The PM Dmitry Medvedev, his Deputy Arkady Dvorkovich; they are members of the government. We might list other persons too.
Yasha is a politically streamlined person who steered everything to the concrete topic. Conclusions are to be drawn.
Reference
Mikhail Skoblionok – the director general of TAKPO CJSC, the owner of the chain of Regina hotels, the president of the Jewish National and Cultural Autonomy of Tatarstan.
- Born on 7 November 1946 in Kharkiv into a military's family. When his father was demobilized, the family moved to Kazan.
- Having graduated from the secondary school, he got into the Kazan Chemical-Technological Institute's Faculty of Engineering.
- From 1971, he worked in state enterprises and at the Research Institute.
- In 1987, he created and headed TAKPO CJSC.
- In 1996, he succeeded in return of the building of synagogue to the Jewry of Kazan and its reconstruction.
- In 1998, the Jewish Secondary School of Kazan was created with his assistance.
- In 2001, he created and headed the Jewish National and Cultural Autonomy of Tatarstan.
- Mikhail Skoblionok has been a member of the board of trustees of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress since 2006.