A political crisis in Tula saw the local mayor clash with the ruling United Russia party and the city prosecutors, who prevented the acting city manager from taking office Monday, Interfax reported.
Mayor Alisa Tolkachyova made Oleg Kozlov acting head of the city administration last week, but prosecutors said the decision was illegal because no open tender was held for the job.
Police did not allow Kozlov into his new office last Friday, while deputy administration head Mikhail Ivantsov, fired by Tolkachyova, continued at his own job despite the sacking order.
United Russia, which expelled Tolkachyova in November, said Sunday that it will try to oust the mayor, elected to the job last March, at an extraordinary meeting of the City Duma on Wednesday.
(MT)