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St. Petersburg Deputy Governor Fired

St. Petersburg governor Georgy Poltavchenko on Wednesday dismissed Deputy Governor Sergei Kozyrev, who was until now in charge of the city's housing and utilities, the St. Petersburg government's press office said.

"Kozyrev was dismissed because of his inadequate control over the activities of subordinate committees and housing management companies," the governor's spokesman Andrei Kibitov said on Twitter.

He said no one had been appointed as Kozyrev's replacement yet, Interfax reported.

Vyacheslav Makarov, the chairman of the St. Petersburg legislative assembly, said St. Petersburg is a very complex region in terms of housing and utilities.

He said he did not want to comment on whether the decision was right or wrong but expressed regret at the deputy governor's departure.

Speaking of the candidates who are likely to take the vacant post, Makarov said the St. Petersburg governor has his own team where he will find an appropriate candidate.

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