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Combined reports
In a surprise move, Vladivostok Mayor Viktor Cherepkov fired three deputies Nov. 30, saying he had to make staff reductions. However, some observers say it is a political maneuver to free the men to run in the upcoming city district elections. Three of Cherepkov's most loyal deputies -- First Vice Mayor Nikolai Markovtsev; Vice Mayor Vladimir Nedelin, who is in charge of personnel policy; and Vice Mayor Sergei Markelov, responsible for general affairs -- were dismissed to cut the city's swollen staff, Cherepkov announced. But the mayor's opponents and former mayoral candidates such as Vladimir Gilgenberg, Yury Kopylov, and Vladimir Murashov have another perspective on the issue. They say the move will free the men to run for seats in local elections for Vladivostok's districts. "This is a sly political move by Viktor Cherepkov," said Gilgenberg, a Primorye Duma deputy and Cherepkov critic. The problem is that Vladivostok is divided into five districts, each of which will elect its own district mayor. Cherepkov fought the division as wasteful and bureaucratic, but elections of the mayor, City Duma, and district mayors and dumas will take place Jan. 17. The fired deputies will stay members of the Cherepkov's team, local newspapers speculated. According to some commentators, Markovtsev will run for the mayor of Leninsky District and Nedelin will run for a City Duma seat. Vice Mayor Nikolai Beletsky kept his office, but will also run for the mayor of Sovetsky District. Others say the mayor fired his deputies for the bad start of the heating season. But the Vladivostok newspaper calls this "a theory for the naive" and Novosti says if it were the case, "scapegoats could be found among lower ranking officials." From Novosti and the Vladivostok
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