President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the acting governor of Kaliningrad, Evgeny Zinichev, after just two months on the job, according to Interfax news agency. Zinichev, one of Putin’s former bodyguards, was appointed by the president on July 28.
According to Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s official spokesperson, Zinichev asked to be transferred to another position, citing “family reasons.” Anton Alikhanov, the head of the regional Kaliningrad government, has been appointed to take his place.
Zinichev attracted some attention in the Russian media, when his past work in the president’s security detail only came to light after Putin appointed him to serve as Kaliningrad’s governor.
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.
