Perhaps not all our readers know that Major General Anatoliy Frantsuz was not simply appointed governor of the region by Leonid Kuchma, but according to an order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine dated June 12, 2002, was seconded to Volyn. And he continues to remain in the cadres of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. When will such a lengthy secondment end? \n \nIt seems that this extremely serious question has moved into the category of humorous ones. At least, some Tsymbalist contacted the editorial office with a complaint that "you stubbornly do not want to inform the public about the fate of Anatoliy Frantsuz, national hero of Rivne region, defender of the working people of Volyn, militia figure, etc." \n \nObviously, the author of this lampoon believes that we, as they say, don't give a damn, and even "proposes" that the friendly staff of "Volyn" join the ranks of tsymbalists. As if journalists of "Volyn" kicked open the door of the regional state administration head's office with their foot, ate roasted quails and suckling pigs with him in reserved corners at banquets, and now can grant an exclusive interview. If you recall, formidable administrative directives were issued to force Volyn residents to subscribe to completely different publications, and the task was set in a mafia-style concrete way: "Outdo 'Volyn'." True, now the governor's favorites — the compliant publications — are successfully reaping the fruits of pressure, having lost what they had. \n \nWe merely diligently conveyed to readers the numerous pre-holiday greetings of the Hero of Ukraine, member of the National Union of Journalists, candidate of legal sciences, and holder of many ranks and titles. Later his MIA honored him with the rank of lieutenant general. What other region has been graced with such a distinguished leader? Unfortunately, we repeat, we had no access to the administrative kitchen or the governor's analytical center. And now we find ourselves in an awkward position: many readers are interested in how to get an appointment with him, and his mobile phone number is known only to his closest drinking companions. \n \nMost officials and deputies say that after August 2004 they rarely saw Anatoliy Frantsuz in Volyn. Unfortunately, it was precisely in early August that the head of the regional state administration, as was reported at the time, got into an accident (the "Jeep" driver was at fault) while returning from a business trip from Sevastopol. As a result, again according to media reports, there was treatment in Feofaniya in connection with "fractures of the collarbone and ankle joint." True, during the presidential elections the press reported that the governor nearly beat some district state administration head with a crutch for failing to secure Yanukovych's popular love. Now Anatoliy Frantsuz is supposedly either on sick leave or on vacation. \n \nThis circumstance — the lengthy secondment and non-appearance in public — interested even People's Deputy of Ukraine Yevhen Kyryllchuk, who last year sent a deputy inquiry to the authorities. First Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration Volodymyr Panchyshyn gave an answer that can be classified as "quibbling" and regarding the salary of the seconded Frantsuz reported the following: "Payment of monetary allowance is carried out at the expense of the funds of those executive bodies to which persons of the commanding staff of internal affairs are seconded. All types of material support at the previous place of service are retained for seconded persons. The Head of the Volyn Regional State Administration Frantsuz A. Y. receives only the monetary allowance established at the previous place of service, based on the official salary of the head of the regional state administration provided for by the staffing schedule of the regional state administration apparatus." \n \n"Well-wishers" inform us that the governor received as much as 15 thousand hryvnias in vacation pay alone. But perhaps this is already an insignificant sum for such bosses? They say that now many high-ranking civil servants who have not been in accidents are fighting for second-degree disability due to the wear and tear of the body in service in Ukraine. Be that as it may, the new government will have to sort out those secondments and monetary accruals, otherwise people will not understand it. \n \nWe tried to get some news from Rivne region, from where the general came to us, as well as a significant militia cohort. Unfortunately, there, obviously, they will now also be looking for our Frantsuz. After all, it is a strange and unique thing — a lieutenant general, while listed on secondment in Volyn, remains in the neighboring region as a deputy of the regional council, although, as reported, he did not participate in session meetings. And now finally the session of the Rivne Regional Council decided to hear the report of deputy Anatoliy Frantsuz on his public activity, and then decide what to do with such a people's representative. \n \nAnd yet, apparently, Volyn residents underestimated their governor. After all, as we already informed the public, Anatoliy Frantsuz together with his colleague Mykhailo Vyshyvanyuk from Ivano-Frankivsk region and the head of the autonomous government of Crimea Serhiy Kunitsyn are contenders for the title of "regional leader of the year." We await with impatience March 12, 2005, when the award ceremony will take place at the National Palace "Ukraine." Since Vyshyvanyuk is no longer a leader, and in Crimea the Prosecutor General's Office is again working intensively, the contender, it seems, is the only one. \n \nWhat notable thing did Frantsuz do in Volyn? They say that Leonid Kuchma ordered the militia general to restore order in Volyn. To be honest, some previous leaders also became famous: with an auto-klondike, buildings in Crimea, at Shatsk Lakes, in Teremno, etc., but at least they were engaged not only in their own economic matters. \n \nAnatoliy Frantsuz visited (it should be noted — he initially appeared in public wearing dark glasses) hospitals, a mine, the border... Legends circulated: Frantsuz disguises himself, masks himself, and goes among the people. Formidable warnings sounded from his lips: I will dismiss doctors, administrators, all bureaucrats and corrupt officials. This image was aided by rumors about the resolution of all working people's issues during personal receptions. \n \nBut within six months everything calmed down, officials of the regional state administration very rarely saw their boss at work, and instead a scandal appeared with apartments for "highly professional specialists." After all, not only militia officers from several regions moved in, including retirees, but also other acquaintances of the new leadership who took positions in state structures. \n\nAs employees of the regional state administration testify, Anatoliy Frantsuz at staff meetings threateningly warned: "I know everything about everyone." Perhaps so, since the bosses vied with each other running to the head with denunciations, adding fuel to the under-the-carpet struggle. In general, the initial fright from the "cop" style of management passed and the "boys" apparently found an approach to the head of the regional state administration. \n \nPerhaps the Hero of Ukraine Anatoliy Frantsuz will someday still return to Rivne region, deliver a report at the session, and he will even be elected head of the regional council? We will be happy for our neighbors — let him restore order there too. \n \nOleksandr NAHORNYI