Putin appoints acting governor to region rocked by protests

Russia’s president on Monday appointed an acting governor to the Far Eastern Khabarovsk region, where tens of thousands have been protesting against the arrest of the popular incumbent on charges of involvement in multiple murders. Vladimir Putin signed a decree dismissing Sergei Furgal, who had run the region since 2018 and was arrested on July 9, and appointing lawmaker Mikhail Degtyaryov as acting governor. Speaking to Putin in a video conference, Degtyaryov thanked him “for the trust” and said he was prepared to fly out to Khabarovsk, a city 3,800 miles east of Moscow, immediately.