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Smolensk Duma to consider Alexei Ostrovsky candidature for governor

The Smolensk Region’s Duma at its 55th meeting on Thursday will consider vesting Alexei Ostrovsky with the authority of the regional governor

MOLENSK, April 26 (Itar-Tass) — The Smolensk Region’s Duma (legislature) at its 55th (extraordinary) meeting on Thursday will consider vesting Alexei Ostrovsky with the authority of the regional governor.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev put forward Ostrovsky’s candidacy for consideration by the regional parliamentarians on April 25.

If approved, Ostrovsky will replace Sergei Antufyev who headed the Smolensk region since 2007.

On April 20, the Russian president accepted resignation of Antufyev at his own request and appointed Ostrovsky as acting governor.

The Smolensk Oblast Duma consists of 48 deputies. To be approved, a governor candidate should be supported by at least 25 lawmakers. In the event of his approval on the governor post the 36-year-old Ostrovsky will become the youngest head of an RF region.

Alexei Ostrovsky was born in Moscow on January 14, 1976.

In 2000 he graduated from the Moscow State Open University, in 2003 – from Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

He worked as assistant to the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

In 2003 he was member of the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC).

In 2003 - 2011 he was member of the fourth and fifth State Duma. He is a member of the LDPR faction. In the fourth Duma (2003-2007) he was deputy chairman of the Information Policy Committee. In the fifth Duma (2007-2011) he was chairman of the Committee on CIS Affairs and Relations with Compatriots.

In 2004 he was the head of the election campaign of presidential candidate from the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia Oleg Malyshkin.

In December 2011 he was elected to the sixth State Duma, a member of the LDPR faction.

On December 21, 2011 – he was appointed chairman of the Duma Committee for Public Associations and Religious Organisations.

He was awarded the Order of Merit for the Motherland, fourth degree.

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