The Governor of the Novosibirsk Region confirmed the dismissal of his deputy, Yuri Petukhov.

Structure of government bodies Novosibirsk region will be changed, and the duties of the first vice-governor will be redistributed, he said. Andy Travnikov at the operational meeting.

According to the Center for Business Life information and analysis agency, citing unnamed sources, Yuri Petukhov has already been sent to pretrial detention on drug charges. Similar information was received from sources of the Siberian Express, but it has not yet been possible to verify it.

On the detention of Petukhov in Moscow It became known on Thursday—sources claimed that Novosibirsk security officials may have been unaware of the actions of their Moscow counterparts. No official reason for the arrest was announced.

According to Sibirsky Express, the Moscow courts' electronic records currently contain no information on any pretrial detention measures being imposed on Petukhov. The Center for Business Life reports that the official is being held in the Lefortovo pretrial detention center, which reports to the FSB, meaning the criminal case should be handled by the FSB.

Yuri Petukhov took up the position of First Deputy Governor of the Novosibirsk Region 11 years ago. Prior to that, he worked in banking and then headed the regional Electoral Commission.

In the government, the official was responsible for the social sector, domestic policy, and also for combating corruption.

Photo: Novosibirsk Oblast Government