Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who governed the republic of Kalmykia for 17 years before deciding not to seek a new term last month, refused on Sunday to become the prime minister of the local government — a proposal made by his own successor, Alexei Orlov, Interfax reported.
“Thanks for the offer, but if you quit, you quit,” said Ilyumzhinov, who kept his other job — the presidency of the World Chess Federation — after a September election.
Orlov, formerly the first deputy prime minister of the republic, was sworn in to office Sunday.
(MT)
