Penza, 23 June 2016. PenzaNews. Valery Lidin, chairman of the Penza region Legislative Assembly, secretary of the regional United Russia party branch; senator Victor Kondrashkin; and deputies of all congregations and members of the regional parliament staff expressed their condolences due to the death of Vasily Bochkarev, ex-governor of the Penza region, Federation Council deputy.

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“Vasily Bochkarev is an embodiment of the age of politicians who had to bring the country back from its knees after the 90s crisis. He took upon the region in tough times – with big staff cuts on enterprises, months-long delays in salaries, pensions and subsidies. Thanks to his big energy, talented management and political skills, the Penza region turned from a depressed region into a dynamically developing part of the Russian Federation,” they read.

According to them, Vasily Bochkarev paid great attention to food security.

“The Penza region began actively developing agriculture, goods and service industry, along with great attention to social development of villages and helping young professionals stay and help the villages,” they add.

According to the obituary text, Vasily Bochkarev helped create a powerful sports infrastructure – a number of sports and recreation centers, stadiums, sports palaces, open and closed swimming pools, tennis courts, and other facilities.

“Vasily Bochkarev was the one behind the initiatives to construct the new building of the Lermontov regional library, the federal cardiovascular surgery center, the regional diagnostics center, the cinema and concert hall, the Philharmonic Hall, the Sura river in Penza, the restoration of the ‘Tarkhany’ museum-estate, the Troitse-Skanov monastery in Narovchat, the historic building that currently hosts the regional Legislative Assembly,” they read.

According to them, in 2009, Vasily Bochkarev was proclaimed a Honorary Citizen of the Penza region for service to the land.

“There is no doubt that Vasily Bochkarev will be remembered as a progressive politician who was dedicated to his work and countrymen,” the obituary reads.

As PenzaNews reported earlier, the former Penza region governor, member of the Russian Federation Council Vasily Bochkarev passed away at the age of 67 on Wednesday, June 22.

According to unofficial reports, his death was caused by lung cancer.

The funeral visitation will be held at “Penza” cinema and concert hall at 10.00-13.00 of Friday, June 24.

The former head of the region will be buried in the Novo-Zapadnoye cemetery.