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Russian top senator says several governors may resign in coming month

According to Russian media, President Vladimir Putin is set to sack a number of governors soon

ORENBURG, March 19. /TASS/. Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of the Russian parliament’s upper chamber, believes that several Russian governors may resign this year as part of the regular rotation process.

"The regular, routine process of replacing governors for various reasons is now under way: in some regions, governors have already served two terms, in other regions they will be appointed to new posts, this is a part of the normal process to rotate the personnel. I think that more resignations will follow this year, but they will be scheduled ones, with no sensations," the Federation Council speaker told reporters on Tuesday.

"This rotation will be completed by approximately mid-April, and preparations for an election campaign will follow," she added.

Earlier, Russia’s Vedomosti daily reported, citing sources close to the Russian president’s administration, that President Vladimir Putin is set to sack a number of governors soon.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not comment on the report.

Last year, 20 Russian regions received new governors. In 14 regions, regional administrative heads tendered their resignation, one governor left the post because his term expired, three governors received posts in Russia’s new government, and two lost regional elections.

The most intense rotation - with 12 regional heads losing their posts - took place in September and October.