On August, 17 Head of Karelia Andrei Nelidov has had a meeting with Alexander Pereplesnin, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of Karelia. The main issue of the meeting were amendments to the Constitution of Karelia offered by the head of the region and adopted unanimously by deputies at the session on August, 16. About this reported The Republic of Karelia State Government Bodies' Official Web Portal.

According to the amendments, the post of the Prime Minister is abolished, and the governor himself will head the Government of the republic. Head of the republic has also got the right to appoint and dismiss his assistants without coordination with the parliament and to define the structure of regional enforcement authorities independently. The purpose of amendments is to increase efficiency of authority, slim down the bureaucracy, decrease bureaucratic hurdles.

Andrei Nelidov has thanked Alexander Pereplesnin and all deputies of the parliament for their affirmative approach and true understanding of essence of the occured changes. "It is very important, to adopt the Constitution not just by a majority vote, but unanimously, – Head of Karelia noted. – In fact, it is the way we will follow further to develop our republic. We are going to achieve a breakthrough. We want, other people to speak about Karelia as of a very interesting, beautiful and economically developed place. For this purpose it is not enough to have a team of professionals, it is necessary to give them an opportunity to fulfil themselves. Any talent may lose heart before bureaucratic obstacles and barriers. Now all processes develop very quickly, and or you either respond instantly and become the leader, or indulge in bureaucracy and miss opportunities for development."

In turn, Alexander Pereplesnin has pointed out that amendments to the Constitution offered by the Head of the republic were supported even by the opposition parties. In the opinion of the speaker, it indicate ability of the head of the region to work in a constructive way with all political forces. Alexander Pereplesnin has also asked Head of the republic to confirm or disprove a strange gossip that Karelia will be transformed into the area, having deprived it of the status of the republic. Andrei Nelidov has denied it positively: "It is utter falsehood. On the contrary, I always said and keep saying that Karelia is a special republic with its unique flavour, that we should keep national features and the status.

"The task is clear: to make life of people better. To reveal the entire potential of Karelia. To be equal to the leading regions of the country. This is the task that the Russian government put before me. Thus, all these fears are groundless. I love Karelia, I have been living here for a long time, and it is very important for me to bring good for the republic."