Wash yourselves in money, veteran governor orders his tax collectors

He cut his political teeth in Soviet times, and more than a generation later remains an iconic figure in Russian politics, noted for his original  thinking. His latest scheme: soft-soap the taxman. In an era of grey men in suits, the most senior - by age - of Russia's regional governors, an ex-Communist, brings welcome colour and candour. 

This week an agitated Tuleyev, aged 71, demanded that local officials in charge of tax collection, who - to his mind  - are failing to bring in sufficient revenue to Kemerovo's coffers, should take daily douches using soap scented with the fragrance of crisp rouble money.

The Soviet loyalist who stood as a candidate in Russian presidential elections, told his lacklustre cadres: 'When you take a shower, this soap's scent will remind you: Yes, it is necessary to collect taxes, to seek money. Perhaps it will help.'

Tuleyev demanded that on a daily basis his newly-fragrant officials should consider how to fill the region's budget. He bluntly reminded them: 'The main source of income of any state is tax.'

It's not his first headline grabbing scheme to have caught public attention, even this month. He promised Siberian slimmers free coal in return for losing weight, with the plan being piloted on a local TV show. 

'We will pay for losing weight - in coal,' he promised. 'Let's not even give out grammes, but tonnes - because it works out cheaper for the budget.' These measures will 'make people slimmer and healthier and more useful for the country'. Kemerovo produces 59 percent of Russia's coal output.