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Cherepkov named government advisor

The Russian government has created a council of local executive heads presided by Vice-Premier Boris Nemtsov to advise it on the process of social and economic reforms. Vladivostok Mayor Victor Cherepkov has been appointed to the council.

Tennis tourney to mark Fleet anniversary

Vladivostok will host an international amateur tennis tournament in celebration of the Pacific Fleet’s 65th anniversary from Sept. 26 to 28. Delegations from many of Vladivostok’s sister cities and amateurs from all over the Far East will attend the event. A number of Moscow celebrities, including Federal Duma and government members, will also come.

Progress director tries to resign

Progress general director Yuri Bodnya submitted a request to resign amidst of press reports accusing him of abusing federal funds given to the helicopter maker. After a vote of no-confidence the Progress board of directors decided to fire him first, and demanded that he appear before them in person. The federal government, which hired Bodnya, has not decided whether to allow him to resign or not.

Lebed to visit Primorye

Alexander Lebed, the leader of the Honor and Motherland movement and the People’s Republican Party, is expected to come to Primorye on Sept. 26. The retired general is planning to visit the Zvezda submarine repair plant and personally appraise the plight of the struggling company. Lebed has also agreed to meet with the public in Vladivostok during his trip.

Mental patients released

About 60 patients were released from a mental hospital in Vladivostok on Sept. 10 because of food shortages. Current provisions are expected to feed the hospital’s remaining 400 patients for two weeks. Committee to investigate Varyag shelling

Fleet Emergence

The Vladivostok Emergencies Commission has asked the Pacific Fleet to look into an accident at the Varyag factory, where a piece of shrapnel went through the roof Sept 5. The Pacific Fleet has been detonating old ammunition within city limits for months. The commission decided to suspend explosions until the investigation is finished and measures are taken to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future.

Radiation at Sakhalin airfield extremely high

Radiation levels increased 1,000 times at an airfield based in southern Sakhalin earlier this month. Experts say the radiation level was so high that exposure in the area for over six minutes was equal to standard amounts of radiation received in a year. Sakhalin officials report that the source was a laboratory used to check devices with radio-isotope units. An investigation of the incident is underway.