President Medvedev visits drought-hit Russian republic Mari El

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev meeting with residents of the village of Maly Shaplak, in the Republic of Mari El, one of the Russian regions hardest hit by this summer’s record-high temperatures, droughts, and wildfires.

The village of Maly Shaplak, the first mention of which dates back to 1795, now has 72 houses, 35 of which are used as dachas (holiday homes) by vacationers from the nearby city.

In Maly Shaplak, President Medvedev learned about the measures being taken to prevent future wildfires.

Mari El is one of the seven regions in Russia where a state of emergency has been declared by the Russian president as a result of the fires.

Twenty-two of the 442 active fire zones recorded across Russia are in the Republic of Mari El. Seventeen of Russia’s regions are suffering from record-high temperatures and drought.
Photo: President Medvedev (center) at a breeding stock farm in Maly Shaplak.

President Medvedev at a breeding stock farm in Maly Shaplak.

President Medvedev at a breeding stock farm in Maly Shaplak.

After visiting Maly Shaplak, President Medvedev traveled to a police department in Mari El’s capital Yoshkar-Ola, where he presented national awards to officers of the Emergencies Ministry, the Defense Ministry and the Interior Ministry. Some of the awards were in recognition of the officers’ contribution to recent firefighting and rescue operations in the republic.

“I have no doubt that you will continue to handle the situation, despite the completely abnormal weather conditions. But even our best efforts will not keep the situation fully under control,” Medvedev said.

“There are many challenges ahead because the temperatures are not changing, the heat is not subsiding, and there is still no rain,” President Medvedev said.