Ulyanovsk regional governor resigns after 16 years in office to run for State Duma

The governor of Russia’s Ulyanovsk region, Sergey Morozov, has announced his resignation, as well as his plans to run for the Russian State Duma.

“Today I appealed to the head of our state with a request to step down voluntarily, in order to fully focus on solving vital issues at the federal level. I made the decision to run for the State Duma,” Morozov said in an address to local residents, broadcast on the state television channel Rossiya 24 on Thursday, April 8. “I sincerely believe that a new team will preserve all our best practices [and] will do what’s best in order to improve the quality and standard of living of Ulyanovsk residents.”

Sergey Morozov was Russia’s last veteran governor, he had headed the Ulyanovsk region since January 2005. Prior to that, he headed an Interior Ministry department and was mayor of Dimitrovgrad.

On April 6, President Vladimir Putin issued a decree dismissing the head of the Tuva Republic, Sholban Kara-ool, who had led the region since May 2007.