Tver governor leaves office – RBC

The Governor of Tver region Andrei Shevelev (right foreground) in a gala match of the All-Russian festival of ice hockey team players, fans and the team of stars of Russian hockey Photo “RIA Novosti»

The Governor of Tver region Andrei Shevelev leave his post. Before the election, the State Duma in the region need a strong leader, the problem is only in the search for such candidates

The Governor of Tver Region Andrei Shevelev soon leave his post, told RBC two source close to the Kremlin, and confirmed the source in the State Duma. He is the second lag of this year after the head of the region Vladimir Gruzdev, who headed previously the Tula region.

Why he leaves

Decision on Shevelev will be made within a month , before the expiry of his powers, sure source of RBC in the State Duma. “Rumors – this is speculation, there is nothing to comment on,” – said RBC governor’s press secretary. Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov also declined to comment.

45-year-old to work Shevelev governor served as vice-governor of the Ryazan region. He heads the Tver Region in June 2011, expires in July.

He is tipped to retire more than a year, he consistently takes the lowest position in the ratings of governors. The final ranking of the pro-Kremlin Civil Society Fund for 2015, he took the last place (84th). Shevelev got a deuce in the final ranking of governors’ political survival and political scientists Yevgeny Minchenko Mikhail Vinogradov. Experts pointed out its weaknesses such as low credibility among the population and elites, lack of achievements.

Sheveleva criticized the activists of the Popular Front (ONF), accuses him of pressure and intimidation of activists. In the last edition of “Sunday Time” ( “Channel”) Shevelev was devoted to the central plot, which tells about renting a “Mercedes” the governor for 20 million rubles.

Shevelev is no stranger to a large part of the regional elite, said political analyst Konstantin Kalachev. Before the new year there was a communal disaster in the area: no heat left many houses and people frozen to no one came from his superiors, he recalls. Worn 80% of the network in the region, said the deputy of the Tver region, the deputy chairman of the Duma faction “Fair Russia” Alexei Chepa.

What Sheveleva not fired so far, due probably to the fact that there were sufficiently strong political who would like to take his place, claims close to the presidential administration, RBC said. In addition, he has long held by the support of big business, now he’s lost it, says another source.

Shevelev plays hockey and has participated in the matches with the president under the Night Hockey Putin League, confirmed RBC governor of the representative (in the same team play Boris Rotenberg and Gennady Timchenko and many close to the president businessmen and officials).

Shevelev holds the title of the Hero of Russia, so even if it is appointed Acting governor after the expiration of the term, he will find cushy job, sure Chepa. In addition, to publicly acknowledge that the Russian hero does not live up to expectations, will be uncomfortable, says Kalachev.

What to replace the character

In general, a political decision on the need to replaced before the election of a weak governor, so that the successor will be found among the Tver officials and politicians or among representatives of the region at the federal level, say close to the presidential administration source of RBC.

In the many military facilities and military camps, so that the choice of candidates of the future head of the region will have an impact, defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, RBC says the other interlocutor.

The most discussed candidate for the post of head of the field for many years, is the leader of the United Russia faction in the Duma, Vladimir Vasiliev. He was at various times offered the post of governor, but for him this fall, says a source close to the Kremlin, RBC and confirms the source in the State Duma. Vasilyev did not want to “dig these Augean stables”, adds the source in the State Duma.

Also in the administration of the president discussed the candidacy of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Tver Region Vladimir Babichev, the chairman of the Legislative Assembly of Tver Region Andrei Epishina, and the first deputy chairman of the committee State Duma on affairs of public organizations Mikhail Markelov, says the source in the State Duma. Babichev was formerly head of the Tver and now it supports Vasiliev, says a source close to the regional government. Yepishin was in the top three candidates during appointment Sheveleva in 2011.

A source close to the regional government, said that also considered the candidacy of Deputy Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Igor Zubov (in 2003 he participated in the gubernatorial race and lost Dmitry Zelenin). Teeth in late January, came to the Tver region and participated in the enlarged meeting of the board of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Tver region. Another one of the candidates discussed -. Head of the Federal Security Service of the Smolensk region, former deputy chief of the FSB of Tver Oleg Konoplev

In recent years, the region is increasingly visited by representatives of the federal authorities, who positively evaluate the processes, draws attention to the press Sheveleva secretary. The last meeting, according to the news on the site of the regional government, held on February 3, the governor spoke with senators from the region, Vladimir Petrov and Victor Abramov.

With the selection of mate Shevelev a problem, said Kalachev. Social discontent is growing in the Tver region, and popular politicians, except Vasilyev, there is the analyst believes.