Penza, 12 May 2014. PenzaNews. The Penza region was ranked fourth among the regions with the highest socio-political stability in the rating prepared by the fund “Petersburg politics” in April 2014. Stability index of the region amounted to 8,5 while the average in Russia — 6.5.

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Among the events that have had positive impact on the region's position in the rating are plans of Moscow corporation “Mashinoeksport” to create pulp and paper production in the Penza region, willingness of Siemens to place its plant in the region, as well as the intention of the Turkish Cemil Ozgur Group to produce bricks in Bessonovsky area.

In addition, the experts positively evaluated start of the project on creating engineering classes at schools in Penza.

Positive impact was also seen in the approval given by the Fund for assistance to reforming housing and communal services in response to the application of the region to provide financial support for the resettlement of people from emergency housing.

In addition, the region's position was strengthened by the inclusion of the Penza region in a group of regions of the Russian Federation with a very low rating of ethnic tension made by Research Center of national conflicts.

Among the negative events are hunger strike of employees of trolleybus depot No. 1 in Penza, who protested against the reorganization resulting in dismissing the workers.

Stability index of the region was also affected by the intention of “Gazprom mezhregiongaz Penza” to limit gas supplies to heat suppliers for the total debt in the amount of 615 million rubles.

Commenting on the rating for April 2014, the president of “Petersburg politics” Mikhail Vinogradov highlighted the urgent debate on municipal reform as the most prominent events of regional policy.

Moreover, in his opinion, the public's attention was also drawn to the appointment of early elections of the head of Yakutia, and the possibility of similar steps in othe regions of the country.

“In the coming months similar solutions may be adopted in relation to a number of other regions — the following regions appear in the list more often than others — the Vologda, Kursk, Leningrad, Novgorod, Penza regions, and Bashkortostan,” Mikhail Vinogradov commented.

The rating by the fund “Petersburg politics” is published monthly since autumn 2012. It assesses the level of socio-political stability of all regions of Russia.

The level of stability is determined by experts of the fund on a 10-point-scale.

The rating divides the regions into four categories according to the degree of socio-political stability and dynamics based on the events of the past month.