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Vladimir Nikolayev, who was dismissed from his mayoral position February 28 by the city’s court decision, on the following day signed an order resuming his duties as mayor of Vladivostok, saying the court’s ruling is to take effect only in a ten-day period.

Nikolayev’s lawyers stated that Nikolayev is entitled to perform his duties until the dismissal ruling comes into effect thus giving the incumbent mayor a ten-day period according to the law. In the case that Nikolayev files a protest to the court’s ruling, the period may take even longer time until the appeal is considered, a press statement from the city’s administration office reported March 2.

The criminal case against Nikolayev was launched two weeks ago by the city Prosecutor’s Office on the grounds of abusing his office, with the mayor facing charges on misappropriate use of the city’s funds.

At a press conference following his removal from the office, Nikolayev claimed the case was ‘completely made up’ calling it ‘someone’s paid order.'

Last week, prosecutors also started five other related criminal investigations into the current administration’s activities, with the latest being the case against the city's deputy mayor Igor Golubev. Golubev was dismissed from his position by Vladivostok Leninsky court on the grounds of illegally spending 20 million rubles ($770,000) of the city’s budget in 2005.


See related stories at:
http://vn.vladnews.ru/issue558/Special_reports/Prosecutors_ink_Nikolayevs_each_move
http://vn.vladnews.ru/issue558/Special_reports/Vladivostok_Mayor_temporarily_dismissed
http://vn.vladnews.ru/issue558/Special_reports/Vladivostok_mayoral_office_under_investigation