In 1996 – 2003 , he was the Governor of Saint Petersburg . In 2003 – 2004 , prior to the Beslan school hostage crisis , he was Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Southern Federal District . From 13 September 2004 till 24 September 2007 , he was Russia 's Minister for Regional Development in Mikhail Fradkov 's Second Cabinet
Beslan school hostage crisis
Beslan school siege
Vladimir Anatolyevich Yakovlev