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Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed a new interim governor for the Khabarovsk region after days of protests.
Governor Sergei Furgal was arrested for murder on July 9, sparking protests in the far eastern province.
His supporters believe the charges against him are politically motivated.
About 10,000 people are believed to have protested against the arrest on Saturday, one of the largest demonstrations in Russia in years.
The protests come just weeks after Putin won the backing of major constitutional reforms in a national referendum, which allow him to remain in power for two additional terms, sparking fears of an offensive against the opposition.
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President Putin formally removed Furgal from office on Monday and appointed Mikhail Degtyaryov as acting head of the region.
Degtyaryov is a member of the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), as is Furgal.
The LDPR is an opposition party, although it is generally considered loyal to the Kremlin. However, Furgal has proven popular in the region, winning the governorship in 2018 for a landslide, outperforming a candidate from Putin’s own party.
Russia’s electoral commission said there would be a new regional vote to elect a new governor in September 2021.
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Reuters
Thousands of people protested against the arrest of Governor Sergei Furgal
Authorities flew from the Russian capital earlier this month in person to arrest Furgal.
He is accused of organizing two murders and one attempted murder of businessmen in 2004-05 while working in the metals trade.
The former governor, who denies all charges, is now sitting in a Moscow prison and could face life behind bars.
Khabarovsk residents have taken to the streets demanding his release. Protesters question why the authorities have taken 15 years to indict Mr. Furgal, and chanted “Putin, resign” and “Freedom” in their marches.
Authorities have downplayed the scenes in the far east, but have not tried to stop them.
Russia overwhelmingly supports constitutional reforms that give Putin the opportunity to run for two other terms at the beginning of the month.
Opposition members denounced the vote as an attempt by Putin to be “president for life,” a claim he rejected. Copies of the new constitution appeared in Russian bookstores before the vote ended.
Furgal’s arrest also comes shortly after the arrest of former journalist Ivan Safronov, following accusations that he passed official secrets to a NATO country.
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