Russia eliminates two of its 11 time zones

The changes mean Chukotka _in the Russian Far East, facing the Bering Strait in Alaska_ is nine hours ahead of Russia”s westernmost region, the Kaliningrad enclave between Lithuania and Poland. Before there were 10 hours apart.

In addition to eliminating the time zone governing Chukotka and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, in the Pacific Far East, Russian President ordered that the regions of Udmurtia Samara in central Russia, unify its time to Moscow.

The changes came into force before dawn Sunday when most of Russia has changed to summer time. People in time zones was not disposed to advance their clocks one hours.

The inhabitants of the areas that were eliminated earlier time zones and not their clocks ahead one hour.

When Medvedev announced in November timetable changes during his report to the nation received some criticism, according to which dealt with all the pettiness between the country”s problems.

The president said the changes would foster more efficient communication with distant regions of the central authorities, facilitate travel and improve the country”s international position.

“It is possible that the measure will strengthen the position of Russia as a link in the global information infrastructure, “the president said this month during a meeting with ministers and regional leaders.

But some people in the affected regions believe Medvedev should have been doing something else with his time.

An application on the Internet against the change in the Samara region collected about 13,000 signatures to dismiss categorically the argument would help to travel more easily.

Arkady Tishkov Geographer, Academy of Sciences of Russia, said that more reforms are needed to time zones in Russia, according to a dispatch state news agency ITAR-Tass.

Kaliningrad could be placed in the same time in Moscow, one in front of all its neighbors, and the vast region of Yakutsk, which has three time zones , UM could have an hour, he said.