Governor Maksiuta prohibited meetings in Volgograd

In order "not to impede the investigation or aggravate the situation" in Volgograd, Governor Nikolai Maksiuta has temporarily prohibited all marches and meetings in the city.

Maksiuta has also called upon the deputies of the Volgograd mayor to perform their functions within the framework of law and the city statute. "I have requested that the deputies of Volgograd mayor should work within the framework of law and the Volgograd statute, not relax and perform their functions much quicker that usual, and provide for the operation of the city infrastructure and life support systems," said Maksiuta to journalists after the completion of the meeting with chiefs of district administrations and deputies of the head of Volgograd administration. Maksiuta noted that, in conformance with the statute, in the absence of the mayor his duties must be performed by one of his deputies.

"I have assumed the responsibility and all my deputies and I am going to work with the Volgograd mayor's deputies and assist them in every way." Volgograd mayor has 5 deputies, and the issue of who is going to perform his duties has not been decided yet, reports "Novosti" news agency.

For reference, Eugeny Ischenko, mayor of Volgograd, was detained by FSS officers on May 30. He was taken for interrogation immediately after the sitting of the Volgograd region administrative board. Searches had been under way for the entire evening in the city administration building, in Ischenko's office and in the offices of his deputies, and in the city head's flat.

At present, the mayor of Volgograd is held at the temporary detention centre. During two days, the investigation agencies must either lay a charge or change the measure of restraint. A criminal case has been initiated against Eugeny Ischenko under three articles of the RF CC: 285 (abuse of power), 286 (excess of power) and 289 (illegal participation in entrepreneurial activity).