Vladimir Putin dismissed the governor of the Khabarovsk Territory, Sergei Furgal, who was previously arrested on charges of involvement in organizing the murders.

"I decide: to dismiss Furgal Sergei Ivanovich from the post of governor of the Khabarovsk Territory in connection with the loss of confidence in the President of the Russian Federation," the Kremlin press service quotes the presidential decree.

Putin appointed State Duma Deputy Mikhail Degtyarev as the acting head of the Khabarovsk Territory. The President held a video link with the parliamentarian.

"Mikhail Vladimirovich, there is work for you, very responsible, very important and, of course, very necessary for the country, I mean the region that I want to offer you to head - the Khabarovsk Territory," Putin turned to Degtyarev.

The President stressed that we are talking about work "in the literal sense of the word in the interests of people." The head of state noted that the Khabarovsk Territory is one of the largest Russian regions with a powerful industrial potential, a distinctive culture and talented, active people.

Putin pointed out that the position offered to Degtyarev would require "the full commitment of forces and the demonstration of all skills, abilities, talents."

In response, the new acting head of the Khabarovsk Territory announced his consent to work in a new position, and also expressed his intention to immediately go to the region he leads. Degtyarev also spoke with the head of state about current areas of work in the Khabarovsk Territory.

“On the agenda are issues of sustainable work of the government of the Khabarovsk Territory, preparation for the heating season, as well as the fight against the spread of coronavirus infection,” said Degtyarev.

Putin acknowledged the existence of a number of problems in the region and urged to look to the future and think about further prospects for the development of the Khabarovsk Territory.

“There are many problems, it's true. They need to be addressed. The heating season, as you said, is coming soon. And you need to do current affairs. But, of course, we need to look to the future, to the future, not to forget about the strategic plans for the development of this huge and very important region for the country. I wish you good luck. See you, ”Putin summed up the meeting.

Mikhail Degtyarev was born in 1981. In 2004, he graduated from the Faculty of Aircraft Engines at the Samara State Aerospace University named after academician S.P. Queen (SSAU).

Then he studied at the Faculty of Economics and Management of SSAU (2005), the Faculty of Modern Law (jurisprudence) at the Institute of World Civilizations (2012), the Faculty of Retraining and Advanced Training of the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (2015) and at the Russian Academy of National Economy and public service under the President of the Russian Federation (2018). In 2020, Degtyarev was awarded the title of candidate of legal sciences.

Degtyarev's political career began with membership in the Youth Parliament at the Samara Provincial Duma. In 2004, he became a deputy of this body, a year later he was appointed assistant to the Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Vladimir Zhirinovsky for work in the Samara region.

In 2011, Degtyarev became a member of the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the sixth convocation. In 2013, he was elected to the Supreme Council of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Furgal's arrest

Sergei Furgal was detained on July 9 in connection with his involvement in organizing murders and attempted murders of entrepreneurs. The crimes, according to the investigation, were committed by an organized criminal group in 2004-2005 on the territory of the Khabarovsk Territory and the Amur Region.

He was taken to Moscow, where he was interrogated as an accused - he is charged with committing crimes under Part 3 of Art. 30, part 3 of Art. 33 and pp. "B", "g", "h" part 2 of Art. 105; h. 3 tbsp. 33, pp. "A", "b", "g", "h" part 2 of Art. 105 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (attempted murder, organization of murders).

The Investigative Committee noted that "sufficient evidence to detain the governor of the Khabarovsk Territory" was collected after in April 2019, criminal cases on attempted murder and murder of entrepreneurs were transferred to the investigator of the Main Directorate for Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the Investigative Committee on behalf of Alexander Bastrykin in the Far East.

Furgal himself does not admit his guilt.

“Of course, I don’t admit my guilt, what is there to talk about ?! If you say that I am outraged and shocked, it means not to say anything, ”he told members of the Moscow POC on July 9.

On the same day, a meeting of the Basmanny Court of the capital took place, during which he was detained for two months, until September 9.

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Later, the Investigative Committee reported that there was irrefutable evidence of Furgal's involvement in organizing the murders of entrepreneurs Yevgeny Zorya and Oleg Bulatov, as well as the attempt on Alexander Smolsky's life.

“The work on solving the crimes never stopped, but it was significantly complicated by the fact that the people who were probably aware of what happened were mostly intimidated and refused to give detailed testimony about Furgal and his accomplices,” the Investigative Committee explained on July 16.

In addition, Larisa Zorya, the widow of entrepreneur Yevgeny Zori, who currently lives with her children in Canada, shared her opinion about the criminal proceedings against Furgal. According to her, her husband had disputes with Furgal over the territory of the plant, which they used together.

“There were many threats, we met, we went, as it was called in the old days, to the arrows,” Zorya said.

Later, according to her, the trial began, and before the last session, Yevgeny Zorya was killed.