Gurulev Warns of Brain Drain in Zabaykalsky Krai, Questions Region's Future

State Duma deputy Andrei Gurulev spoke out about the problem of strong managers leaving Zabaykalsky Krai for other regions. He believes that capable specialists cannot find their place in the current management system, seeing no opportunities for growth, influence, or real work. He wrote about this in his Telegram channel on January 23.

He noted that he encountered situations in Khabarovsk Krai where people thanked Zabaykalsky Krai for professional doctors from Chita coming to them. The deputy recalled the example of former Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Zabaykalsky Krai Aryuna Baikova, who now works as deputy governor in Chukotka, and former head of the regional branch of the «Defenders of the Fatherland» fund Tatyana Lonshakova, who became deputy minister of education and science of Khabarovsk Krai.

«And here arises the main, unpleasant, but necessary question: is everything really fine with our management? Or are we continuing to lose smart, independent, professional people, while retaining and promoting those who are simply convenient?»

When competent management specialists leave to work in other regions, it is hard to call it a coincidence. It is more of a symptom. A symptom that local capable specialists cannot find their place in the current management system, seeing no opportunities for growth, influence, or real work. And this is no longer a private problem of one industry. It is a brain drain overall. When people capable of changing the situation, developing territories, and building long-term policy leave for places where they are heard and where they are allowed to work.

And because of this, the future of the region is called into question. Because without strong managers, there will be no normal education, no medicine, no development of territories, only chronic staff shortages, turnover, and constant shifting of responsibility,« wrote the deputy.

Aryuna Baikova resigned and said goodbye to the department«s team on February 14 2025. On February 25 it became known that she became acting deputy governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Following her, former deputy chairman of the government of Zabaykalsky Krai Tatyana Tsympilova flew to Chukotka, where she was appointed deputy head of the Department of Education and Science.

It became known on January 23 that former head of the branch of the «Defenders of the Fatherland» fund in Zabaykalsky Krai Tatyana Lonshakova became deputy minister of education and science of Khabarovsk Krai.