Prompted by the arrival of international corporations like Mars and Metro Cash & Carry in his region, Ulyanovsk Gov. Sergei Morozov wants his top people to speak fluent English. Morozov is also going back to school.

Ulyanovsk's campaign is rare in regional Russian government where most English skills are limited, The Moscow Times said.

Ulyanovsk is on the Volga River and best known as the birthplace of Vladimir Lenin.