Chelyabinsk region Governor Mikhail Yurevich quit his post on Wednesday, a statement on the Kremlin website said.
President Vladimir Putin has appointed Boris Dubrovsky as acting head of the region, the statement said.
Yurevich was appointed governor in 2010 by then-President Dmitry Medvedev after acting as the mayor of Chelyabinsk, his home city.
The Center for Political Information said that Yurevich was among the worst regional heads in Russia and blamed him for Chelyabinsk's deficit and deteriorating infrastructure, RIA Novosti reported in October.
Dubrovsky was born in the Chelyabinsk region's second largest city, Magnitogorsk, and currently serves as the general director of its metallurgical plant. He met with Putin on Wednesday and was reportedly ordered to pay attention to the region's industry.
Ruslan Gattarov, a senator from the Chelyabinsk region, said that he expects Dubrovsky to participate in the election to retain his post in September.
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.
