OREANDA-NEWS. December 22, 2008. The awarding ceremony took place at the All-Russian Exhibition center. The contest is conducted each year with the support of the Ministry of regional Development of Russia with a view to intensify the efforts of municipalities to develop their housing and utilities infrastructures, to distinguish the most comfortable cities and to disseminate their positive experience.

Over 700 Russian cities and towns have taken part in the contest in the past 10 years with an average of 100 cities participating in the contest each year. The winners of 2007 are Novosibirsk, Bratsk (Irkutsk region) and Reutov (Moscow region).

This year closed administrative territorial district, Zelenogorsk, took part in the contest for the first time. The city won the preliminary regional contest and even though it did not win the key prizes its debut was quite successful.

Mayor of Zelenogorsk Alexander Morgunov was granted special prize for significant achievements in the development of the city. Morgunov is sure that his city has all chances to win the contest in the coming years.