President Putin spoke against "egalitarian principle" in Russian regions

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke against the "egalitarian principle" in the Russian regions at a meeting devoted to social and economic development of the Povolzhye federal district.

"We should sensibly use differences between separate regions and municipal units," he said.

Meanwhile the problems of separating powers of the federal centre and regions, as well as of inter-budget relations are not solved, according to the president. The regions that reproach the federal centre for not offering "clear mechanisms for stimulating economic development" are right, he believes.

"We must offer such a plan of long-term norms that would create incentives for development in the regions," Putin said.

He also spoke for effective use of federal integral programs that should not be equated with a kind of transfers. These programs reflect the priorities of both the regions and the state as a whole, he assured.

Putin also suggested discussing interaction of his plenipotentiary representatives in federal districts with the regions' governors.