Federal Youth Agency head Vasily Yakemenko, known for his role in founding the pro-Kremlin youth group Nashi, might be replaced in his position by someone younger, a ministry boss said Wednesday.
"Youth organizations should be led by young people. We don't want to jump ahead, but there are many candidates," said Sports, Tourism and Youth Politics Minister Vitaly Mutko, according to Interfax.
Yakemenko is set to turn 40 later this year. He has led the youth agency since 2007.
Yakemenko recently became the subject of a scandal regarding e-mails of his that were leaked last week, allegedly by the hacker group Anonymous.
The e-mails detail Yakemenko's search for a pricey apartment and lavish spending by his agency on youth projects.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
