Krasnoyarsk territory Governor Tolokonsky announces resignation
KRASNOYARSK. Sept 27 (Interfax) - Krasnoyarsk territory Governor Viktor Tolokonsky is stepping down, Alexei Kleshko, a deputy chairman of the Krasnoyarsk territorial Legislative Assembly, said on Facebook.
"Tolokonsky now: 'I am going and even leaving'. Speaking emotionally. This is felt very well," Kleshko said with reference to Tolokonsky's speech at a meeting on Wednesday.
"I've never abandoned what I started. Now I regret that not all projects have been fully implemented, but I've always been in favor of renewal," Kleshko went on to quote Tolokonsky as saying.
The outgoing governor thanked the territorial administration members, legislators, and chiefs of the local offices of federal government bodies present at the meeting, he said.
He also apologized for having possibly offended some of his colleagues during his work.
"It's not the first time I've said goodbye to my colleagues, and usually my thoughts have been about a new work. It's not so today. I'd like to apologize if I offended someone. I can be quick-tempered sometimes, but I've always worked with love. And if my emotional warmth has not been enough for everybody, please forgive me," Kleshko quoted Tolokonsky as saying.
At the end of his post, Kleshko described Tolokonsky's speech as "a worthy speech by a strong politician."
Tolokonsky has served as Krasnoyarsk territory governor since September 26, 2014. Before this, he had been appointed acting governor on May 12, 2014 and then garnered 63.3% of the vote in gubernatorial elections in September.
Tolokonsky was born in Novosibirsk on May 27, 1953. He graduated from the economics department of the Novosibirsk National Economy Institute and then pursued his post-graduate studies at the Novosibirsk State University.
Tolokonsky served at leading positions at the Novosibirsk regional executive committee in 1981-1991 and then was deputy chairman of the Novosibirsk city executive committee. Then he served as mayor of Novosibirsk until 1999. From January 2000 to September 2010, he served as governor of the Novosibirsk region and later as presidential envoy to the Siberian Federal District.