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Chief Architect Resigns

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin signed off on the resignation of the city's chief architect, Alexander Kuzmin, who decided to step down after 16 years in office, City Hall said Thursday without specifying the reasons for the decision.

Kuzmin went on vacation Monday and will subsequently leave his post, City Hall's spokesman told journalists.

Kuzmin, who turned 61 on Thursday, didn't comment on his resignation. He had been chairing City Hall's architecture and city construction committee since 1996 and was one of just a few senior officials who remained in the city administration after the resignation of former mayor Yury Luzhkov.

Among the major construction projects that he oversaw are restoration of the Christ the Savior Cathedral, construction of Moskva-City and the Third Ring Road.

Kuzmin's first deputy, Oleg Rybin, has been appointed acting chairman of the committee, City Hall said.

(MT)

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