Grigory Ledkov was elected the president of the Association of indigenous peoples

The election of the president of the Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East of Russia took place on the 24th of March in Salekhard within the 8th report and election congress.

374 delegates from 32 public associations, members of the Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East participated in it. A deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, a member of the committee on affairs of nationalities Grigory Ledkov and the president of the Union of communities of indigenous ethnic minorities of the North in Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Yugra Oleg Shatin became the candidates. The credentials of the delegates were checked according to the documents presented to the credential committee. There were no violations of norms of representation established by the decision of the coordinating council of the Association, the quorum met. For the first time in history of the Association of indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East Grigory Ledkov was elected the President in the first tour and in open voting. By the results of the elections, 368 people voted for his candidature, three abstained, and three voted for Oleg Shatin. Gregory Ledkov was given the belt - the symbol of power. He thanked the delegates for their trust: “I solemnly swear to serve for wellbeing of indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East and our homeland”. In his report preceding the election Grigory Ledkov said: “We continue our history, fulfill main tasks, which were set 27 years ago. First, it is protection of rights and interests of indigenous ethnic minorities of the North, Siberia and the Far East. Second, it is representation of our peoples in interaction with the state authorities, industrial enterprises, on the international level. Third, it is coordination of the all-Russian movement, responsibility for solving of issues vitally important for indigenous peoples”. As we should remind, on the previous congress in 2013 the election of the president of the association took place in three tours. In two first tours of voting none of the candidates received two thirds of votes, according to the charter. The name of the new president of the public organization Grigory Ledkov was announced only at midnight.