Aman Tuleyev, former governor of Kuzbass, has died at the age of 79. This was announced by the region's current governor, Sergey Tsivilev, in his Telegram channel.
"A bright, extraordinary person who dedicated his life to serving Kuzbass and Russia," he wrote, calling Tuleyev's death an irreplaceable loss.
Tsivilev recalled that Tuleyev took charge of the Kemerovo region "in difficult times when miners sat on the rails, blocking traffic on the Trans-Siberian railway, and managed to lead the region out of crisis." He noted that residents remember Tuleyev as "a true people's governor, who always prioritized the interests of the people in his work."
Aman Tuleyev led the Kemerovo region for more than 20 years, from 1997 to 2018. He resigned following the fire in the "Winter Cherry" shopping center, which resulted in the deaths of 60 people, including 37 children.
In 2019, Tuleyev spoke about people turning away from him and the "emptiness around" after leaving the governor's post. He explained that while in power, everyone needs you and treats you with respect. Tuleyev remarked that initially, he felt offended by the situation but now understands that people behave this way because they are "driven by fear for their career and position."
