Protesters in Russia’s Buddhist republic of Kalmykia took to the streets against the appointment as mayor of a one-time leader of separatist-held eastern Ukraine.
Dmitry Trapeznikov, 38, briefly led the self-proclaimed Donetsk people’s republic in war-torn eastern Ukraine after his predecessor was assassinated last year. On Thursday, the Kalmyk governor announced that he appointed Trapeznikov as the acting head of the regional administrative center of Elista, sparking protests over the weekend.
Around 300 people gathered again in central Elista on Tuesday after authorities ignored their demand to fire Trapeznikov, Interfax reported.
“Trapeznikov is not a native of Kalmykia, he’s not even a citizen of Russia. He’s an outsider,” activist Batyr Boromangnayev was quoted as saying.
Activists had earlier sent a complaint to Russia’s top prosecutor alleging violations of national and local municipal service laws.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday called Trapeznikov’s appointment "exclusively the prerogative of the regional head.”
Batu Khasikov, a champion kickboxer and the Putin-appointed governor of the republic of Kalmykia, called Trapeznikov’s brief tenure at the helm of separatist-led Donetsk “the best school for an anti-crisis manager.”
Relations between Ukraine and Russia have been rife with tension since protesters in Kiev ousted their Kremlin-backed president in 2014. Russia went on to annex Crimea and foment a conflict in Ukraine’s Donbass region that has killed more than 13,000 people.
Trapeznikov joined pro-Russian rebels in the Donbass after managing Ukrainian billionaire Rinat Akhmetov’s Shakhtar Donetsk football club.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
