Penza, 30 October 2015. PenzaNews. The Penza region governor Ivan Belozertsev described his feelings when the Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed him the head of the region, in a reply to a question asked by the PenzaNews agency editor-in-chief Pavel Polosin during a grand press conference held in the Penza region government on Friday, October 30.

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“The conference has been going on for 2.5 hours. All main questions were asked. I have a question about feelings. Ivan Alexandrovich, it is barely over a month since the Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin entrusted you with managing the region on May 25, and about month and a half since your victory in the Penza region gubernatorial election where you won with over 86% of the vote. This way, the people in the Penza region themselves, many experts think, confirmed that the President’s decision made this spring was correct. My question may seem too personal to you, but I find it very interesting in relation to your biography. As a regular person, not as a politician, state servant or Army Colonel, what were your feelings when the President signed the decree to appoint you, and when your victory in the September 13, 2015, election became apparent?” Pavel Polosin asked.

According to Ivan Belozertsev, the decision made by the head of state was a surprise for him.

“I did not know about it, I did not prepare for this event. I never pushed through any people in my life. I always work – just did my duty, and the top just kept noticing me and kept promoting me upwards,” the head of the region pointed out.

His candidacy was decided in early May, that was also marked by his meeting with Vladimir Putin in the latter’ summer residence “Bocharov Ruchey” in Sochi, he explained.

“When the presidential decree was released, of course, there was a feeling of immense worry. Really, the worry was immense,” Ivan Belozertsev said, adding that he also had to feel the full weight of responsibility for the future of the Penza region.

After the election, he experienced great support from the people in the region, the governor stressed.

“I knew that support exists, I always felt it, but I did not think it is that big. This places particular responsibility for the results of development in the Penza region, for resolving the appearing issues – different and very grave,” he clarified.

He is still worried, according to the governor.

“Worried for the trust people give you, that you must pay back with work – you must give results, find solutions. This worry remains in me even now. And it will likely continue to be there throughout my work as the governor,” Ivan Belozertsev concluded.

As PenzaNews agency reported earlier, on May 25, 2015, Ivan Belozertsev was appointed the acting governor of the Penza region by the decree of the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During the September 13 gubernatorial election, Ivan Belozertsev received the support of unrivaled public majority – nearly 600,000 voters, or over 86%.

In accordance with the regional charter, the Penza region governor is elected for 5 years and cannot take the office for more than two terms in a row.

The governor’s term is calculated from the day their inauguration takes place. Ivan Belozertsev’s inauguration in Penza took place on September 21.