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Kemerovo mayor resigns ahead of time

At a meeting with reporters on Tuesday, Mikhailov said he wanted “to leave timely”

KEMEROVO, July 31 (Itar-Tass) — Kemerovo Mayor Vladimir Mikhailov has resigned ahead of time. The Kemerovo region governor and the city council of people’s deputies have accepted his statement of resignation.

Vice-Governor Valery Yermakov has been appointed as acting mayor. City council speaker Grigory Verzhitsky said on Tuesday that “none of the deputies would want to make the decision on the resignation of Vladimir Mikhailov, who enjoys due respect and love of the citizens. If it had not been his personal decision to step down, he would have had all chances to win in the election in March 2013”.

Mikhailov, aged 60, was one of the most experienced among mayors of Russia’s major cities. He was elected to the post four times. Last time he received over 85 percent of the vote, while the voter turnout was high – about 80 percent.

Kuzbass Governor Aman Tuleyev also stressed his “unique managerial skills” as well as the style of work “where tough a discipline and protection of the citizens’ interests were always present”.

At a meeting with reporters on Tuesday, Mikhailov said he wanted “to leave timely”as, according to him, time comes when it “becomes impossible” to occupy the mayoral position.