Marat Khusnullin talked about how he chose KAMAZ over Mercedes and traveled across the country.

      Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin shared in a large interview with TASS why he has a "trembling attitude towards roads and their construction." This is connected to the personal history of the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, who oversees the construction sector. "In 1991, when I was involved in the construction cooperative 'Temp,' I faced a choice: to buy a brand new white Mercedes in the 124th body for, it seems, $24,000 in St. Petersburg or to take a KAMAZ for work. I chose the truck," Khusnullin said. "I then drove it all over the country — from St. Petersburg and Moscow to the Urals, Baku, and Tashkent. In Kazakhstan, I remember crossing hundreds of kilometers through the steppe and dirt roads: there was no asphalt. And in Russia, the state of the roads left much to be desired. I thought back then: will we ever have good highways where one can drive a normal passenger car instead of a KAMAZ? Therefore, when I was entrusted with roads, I took them seriously." The Deputy Prime Minister admitted that he literally lives the topic of roads: "The current program is designed for six years; I can assert that I know almost all federal highways by heart: what and where is being built, and the condition of various sections. I live this." He also responded to a journalist's remark that the country has a chance to overcome one of the two classic Russian woes, "we just need to deal with the fools": "By the way, I consider this expression incorrect and unfair. I disagree that the people in Russia are foolish. In terms of the number of educated people and the level of intelligence, we are among the leaders in the world. This is not a patriotic slogan; I genuinely believe so," Marat Khusnullin stated.

       Photo: kremlin.ru

       More news about the event:

       Over 4,300 utility facilities have been modernized in Russia with the support of the Territorial Development Fund

       Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Marat Khusnullin reported on the large-scale renewal of the country's utility infrastructure

      Since the start of the program, over 4,300 facilities have been put in order: boiler houses, 18:26 11.08.2026 News of Zelenodolsk - Zelenodolsk

       200 kilometers remain to Kazan along the Europe - Western China corridor

       This was reported by the Deputy Prime Minister of the country Marat Khusnullin. The highway is to stretch from the port of Lianyungang on the Yellow Sea to Russia's maritime gates on the Baltic. 15:36 11.08.2026 Komsomolskaya Pravda Kazan - Kazan

       Khusnullin: the high-speed road from St. Petersburg to Kazan is almost ready, only 200 km remain

       Kazakhstan is also continuing work on its section

      Photo: taken from the website of Tatarstan. 15:21 11.08.2026 Real Time - Kazan

       Khusnullin: "200 km remain to Kazan along the Europe - Western China corridor"

       Anna Salnikova Editor of the news feed

      Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Marat Khusnullin told TASS that the high-speed road in the Europe - Western China corridor has already been extended from St. Petersburg to Kanash in Chuvashia. 15:10 11.08.2026 ProKazan.Ru - Kazan

       Khusnullin: "200 km remain to Kazan along the Europe - Western China corridor"

       Russia and Kazakhstan continue the construction of the international transport corridor Europe - Western China. 11:53 11.08.2026 IA Tatar-inform - Kazan

       Khusnullin on the Europe - Western China corridor: "About 200 kilometers remain to Kazan"

       Russia and Kazakhstan continue to work on the construction of the corridor "Europe - Western China." 10:37 11.08.2026 Business Online - Kazan

       Marat Khusnullin talked about how he chose KAMAZ instead of Mercedes and drove across the country

       Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Marat Khusnullin shared in a large interview with TASS why he has a "trembling attitude towards roads and their construction." 09:40 11.08.2026 Newspaper Vesti KAMAZ - Naberezhnye Chelny

       Khusnullin recalled how in the 90s he refused a Mercedes for the sake of a "KAMAZ"

       In 1991, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Marat Khusnullin refused a white Mercedes worth $24,000 and chose a "KAMAZ" for work. 07:34 11.08.2026 Business Online - Kazan

       Khusnullin explained why he personally visits construction sites: "It's not the level of a deputy prime minister"

       Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Marat Khusnullin personally visits construction sites to assess the progress of work and the people responsible for the projects. 14:47 10.08.2026 Business Online - Kazan

       News from neighboring regions on the topic:

       Architect Fesenko: Russia has the resources to increase labor productivity in the construction sector

       Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Marat Khusnullin stated at a meeting of the Ministry of Construction board and the State Council commission about the catastrophic shortage of personnel. 19:46 11.08.2026 IA Public News Service - Moscow

       60% of Russia's road network has been brought to standard in a few years

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      In an interview with TASS, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Marat Khusnullin reported, 22:24 11.08.2026 Newspaper Biysk Worker - Biysk

       Four projects from Dagestan became winners of the All-Russian competition of the Ministry of Construction of Russia for creating a comfortable urban environment. This was reported by the acting head of Dagestan Fyodor Shchukin.

       A record number of applications were submitted for the competition – 582 from 82 regions of the country, and the final list of the best was approved by a federal commission led by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin. 16:13 11.08.2026 Newspaper Kizilyurt News - Kizilyurt

       Khusnullin announced new deadlines for the launch of the mega-highway from Yekaterinburg to Tyumen

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       Deputy Prime Minister Khusnullin reported how he surprised Putin with a tough proposal

       Anna Salnikova Editor of the news feed

      Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin shared how in 2020 he proposed to President Vladimir Putin to dismiss officials for failing to meet road construction plans, 16:58 11.08.2026 Pro Gorod Perm - Perm

       Almost 4,500 utility facilities have been updated with the support of the Territorial Development Fund

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       Khusnullin reported on a tough decision that surprised Putin

       It concerns the dismissal of several officials Photo: Roman Pimenov / "St. Petersburg Diary"

      In an interview with TASS, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said, 12:46 11.08.2026 St. Petersburg Diary - St. Petersburg

       Khusnullin reported on a tough decision that surprised Putin

       It concerns the dismissal of several officials Photo: Roman Pimenov / "St. Petersburg Diary"

      In an interview with TASS, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said, 12:45 11.08.2026 Spbdnevnik.ru - St. Petersburg

       Khusnullin stated that he surprised Putin with the proposal to dismiss negligent officials

       Photo: photoibo/Shutterstock/Fotodom Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Marat Khusnullin shared a story about how he made a tough personnel decision that surprised President Vladimir Putin. 12:32 11.08.2026 Yamal-Media - Salekhard

       Khusnullin talked about how he successfully bought a KAMAZ instead of a "Mercedes" in St. Petersburg

       This happened in 1991 Photo: Roman Pimenov / "St. Petersburg Diary"

      Deputy Prime Minister of the country Marat Khusnullin told TASS that in 1991 he preferred to buy a KAMAZ truck instead of a German Mercedes car, 12:13 11.08.2026 Spbdnevnik.ru - St. Petersburg

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