The Russian president Vladimir Putin has dismissed Amur Region Governor Leonid Korotkov for lack of confidence, the presidential press service said today. Prosecutors in the Amur Region accused Korotkov of abuse of office and negligence on May 2, and if found guilty he could face large fines and up to seven years in prison. Russian news agency RAI Novosti quated Prosecutors as saying Korotkov's unlawful actions had caused 123 million rubles ($4.8 million) losses for the Far Eastern region. He was accused of raising electricity rates to illegally bankroll the local soccer team, buying vehicles at inflated prices and paying 16 million rubles ($620,000) to a mining company for a controlling stake that was never transferred to the regional government. Vladimir Putin signed another decree to appoint Alexander Nesterenko, deputy governor of the region, acting governor. Korotkov was approved as the local governor by the regional legislature in 2005. His term of office expires in 2009. -- SPA
