In an expected move, President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday appointed acting Saratov Governor Valery Radayev to the post permanently, the Kremlin said in a statement.
Previous Saratov Governor Pavel Ipatov resigned last month amidst growing tension with the regional legislature and one of the lowest approval ratings of any governor. Fourteen percent of residents approved of his work as governor, compared to 62 percent who disapproved.
Radayev, 51, has been acting governor since Ipatov's resignation and is a member of United Russia. He is also secretary of the political council of the Saratov region branch of the party, and has served as a deputy in the Saratov region legislature. He was born and raised in the region he will head and graduated from the Saratov Institute of Agricultural Mechanization.
Governor appointments are set soon to become a thing of the past — Medvedev is expected to sign a bill to return direct gubernatorial elections into law by early May, when his presidential term ends.
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.
