According to the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin (May 2, 2014 № 296) "On the land territory of the Russian Arctic", the entire Murmansk region has been included in the land areas of the Russian Arctic, the regional Murmansk government press office said.
The decree was signed to implement the Principles of State Policy of the Russian Federation in the Arctic until 2020 and beyond.
The Murmansk regional government proposals on the composition of the Arctic zone were outlined in appeals of Murmansk Gov. Marina Kovtun to President Vladimir Putin and to the Russian Government.
The regional government has proposed to use as the main criterion for inclusion of territories to the Arctic zone conventional political and geographic criteria - location of the region to the north of the Arctic Circle (66° 33 NL). In determining the southern borders of the Arctic Zone – to take into account the integrity of natural and economic systems, connectivity of the transport system with the Arctic marine areas. This approach was supported by most authorities of the Russian Arctic regions, the report says.