Kremlin Ousts Governor in Russia

In order to secure his party’s control after poor support in the past election, Russian president Dmitri Medvedev replaced the governor in Myrmansk, a northwestern region of Russia.
Many speculate that Medvedev’s move to overtake the Myrmansk governor was an attempt to hinder disloyalties to the new president and Kremlin forces. Moves like this can clearly be expected with the already known regional government discontent with the current financial crisis in Russia.
Yuri A. Yevdokimov, the governor removed by Medvedev, is a member of United Russia, the ruling party in Russia; however, he had been expressing discontent with the party leaders. To reaffirm his discontent with the party leaders, he supported an independent candidate in the last mayoral election in Myrmansk, who ended up winning against a United Russia candidate. This surprising turnout for the mayoral election caused tremors that reached all the way back to United Russia headquarters in Moscow.
Russian governors were once elected, but after Vladimir Putin was elected in 2004, governors were then appointed by the president. This was an attempt by Putin to centralize the control in the Kremlin. However, mayors continue to be elected; this tests the power of strength of the ruling party. In the city of Sochi (home of the 2014 winter Olympics), three well known candidates are campaign.
The Kremlin released a statement on the internet that outlined the dismissal of Yevdokimov, claiming that he voluntarily resigned as governor of Myrmansk. However, it seems evident that if he has not resigned, he would have been dismissed. Additionally, the article added that Medvedev had nominated Dmitri Dmitrienko to serve as the new governor of Myrmansk.

Julianne Kriner
Team Russia