Ex-Governor Kiselyov wanted as senator
The newly appointed Governor of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Ilya Mikhalchuk, wants his predecessor Nikolay Kiselyov to be the regions new representative in the Federation Council.
In accordance with federal law, the powers of a senator expire together the powers of a governor. Ilya Mikhalchuk, who was appointed governor in April this year, now says that he wants his predecessor, Nikolay Kiselyov, to be his man in the upper house of parliament, the Arkhangelsk regional adminstration reports.
Nikolay Kiselyov will replace Aleksandr Tischchenko as the senator of Arkhangelsk Oblast, if approved by the regional parliament. The question will be addressed at a parliament session on May 28.
It is already clear however that several deputies are strongly against the appointment of Mr. Kiselyov. Dmitry Taskaev, Vice-Speaker of the assembly and leader of the parliamentary group Union of Right Forces, says to regional media that the video case has weakened the reputation of the former governor. On the tape, a man resembling the former governor is displayed accepting a major bribe.
The leader of the parliamentary group A Just Russia, Mr. Vasily Badanin, stressed that they want to see a man with an unblemished reputation taking the post as senator. -We expect changes for the better, he stresses. Other parliamentary groups such as the Communist party, the United Russia and the Liberal Democratic Party have still not announced their positions on the issue.
BarentsObserver Arkhangelsk
