Governor of Russia’s Tomsk region Sergey Zhvachkin announced his resignation on Tuesday, the region’s press service informed. This decision was supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin, he added.
“I am stepping down as governor. In the first months of this year, important events happened in my life. On January 20, I turned 65. Although all men are boys in their hearts, I am one of the oldest governors in the country. So it’s time to make way for the young,” he said.
Zhvachkin said that he plans to remain in Tomsk. He has headed the region since 2012. RBC newspaper wrote in October 2021 that the Kremlin had discussed Zhvachkin’s resignation following the 2020 Tomsk parliamentary election, when candidates supported by Alexey Navalny won legislative seats in 19 districts out of 27.
Governor of the Kirov region Igor Vasilyev announced his resignation on the same day, noting that his term is ending soon. Vasilyev also said that his decision is supported by Vladimir Putin. The governor plans to continue his work “on a federal level.”
Vasilyev has served as governor of the Kirov region since 2017. Putin first appointed him as acting governor in July 2016, after his predecessor Nikita Belykh stepped down amid bribery accusations. In 2017, Vasilyev won the local election with 64.03% of the vote.
Governor of the Saratov region Valery Radaev also announced on his Telegram channel that he is stepping down after 10 years as head of the region. Radaev said that he would not run for a new term and that he would focus “on another field of work.”
Head of the Mari El republic Aleksandr Yevstifeev was next to issue a statement on stepping down as governor. Yevstifeev noted that he had addressed Vladimir Putin personally to tender his resignation. The Mari El governor is 63 years old. He has headed the region since 2017.
