LIPETSK OBLAST

An administrative region of the Russian Federation. Lipetsk is part of the NorthwesternFederal DistrictandEconomic Region. Deep in thechernozemregion of Russia, theoblastis bordered byRyazan,Tambov,Voronezh,Kursk,Oryol, andTula. Lipetsk was formed from the breakup of several other regions in 1954. Its defining geographic features are the Galichya Mountain Reserve and the Usman Pine Forest, part of the larger Voronezh Biosphere Preserve.The regional capital is atouristdestination as a result of its salubrious mineral waters. The oblast is 24,100 square kilometers and has a population of slightly more than 1.2 million. The region is thoroughly industrialized and suffers from high levels of airpollution. Nonferrous metallurgy—driven by the industrial giant Novolipetsky Metallurgical Combine—is a majorindustryin the oblast, accounting for 60 percent of the gross regional product. The region produces a significant portion of the country’s concrete, refrigeration equipment, tractors, and cast iron.

Lipetsk was one of only eight territorial units permitted to hold gubernatorial elections in late 1992. TheCommunist Party of the Russian Federationcandidate, Mikhail Narolin, defeated the federally supported contender. As a result, there was strong support for the anti-Yeltsin forces during theconstitutional crisis of 1993and forGennady Zyuganovin both the 1996 and 2000 presidential elections. He was replaced by the current governor, Oleg Korolyov, who won convincing majorities in 1998 and 2002 before being reappointed byVladimir Putinin 2005. Korolyov has been praised byJewishgroups for promoting interfaith relations in the oblast since coming to power. He has also expanded commercial ties with the city ofMoscowthrough good relations withYury Luzhkov, as well asFinlandand Italy (Korolyov hosted Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in 2004). Lipetsk is one of Russia’s few “donor regions,” contributing more to the federal budget than receiving from it.