MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday fired the governor of a far-flung region who has been arrested on charges of corruption.
Alexander Khoroshavin, governor of the island of Sakhalin just north of Japan, was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of receiving a bribe for building a power station. Investigators said they found 1 billion rubles ($17 million) in cash at his home as well as troves of expensive jewelry.
Despite the arrest on March 8, it was only on Wednesday that Putin formally dismissed him from his job, citing “the loss of confidence” in Khoroshavin.
Russia is high on the list of the world’s most corrupt countries but very few high-ranking officials get indicted or face prison time.
Putin named Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of the Far East region of Amur, as the acting replacement for Khoroshavin. Alexander Kozlov, mayor of the Amur capital of Blagovshchensk, was named acting Amur governor. Both regions are to hold governor elections this year.