Sokolov supported Matviyenko's idea to collect compulsory health insurance contributions from the unemployed.

      As Alexander Sokolov reported, Valentina Matvienko recently proposed requiring able-bodied citizens who are not officially employed to pay for mandatory health insurance. He added that there are about 70,000 such people in the Kirov region.

      "This is a very important initiative," the governor said. "It needs to be worked out in detail. It's a matter of social justice. The majority of people of working age work, pay taxes, and contribute to funds — pension and health insurance. And there is a group of people who actually work, receive payment for their labor illegally, and we are obliged to pay for their health insurance. In other words, honest working citizens pay for those who do not want to work honestly."

      Sokolov noted that the region loses about one billion rubles a year because of this (or even more than two billion, according to some estimates). He promised that the regional authorities would offer Matvienko their support.