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Governor of Russian oil-rich region resigns, was criticised over war remarks

Natalia Komarova, the governor of Siberia's oilrich KhantyMansiisk area who was last year criticised for remarks she made about the war in Ukraine, announced on Thursday that she was resigning from her post.

In a video posted on her Telegram channel, Komarova, who supervise an area also called Yugra, which accounts for more than 40% of Russia's total oil output, stated she was moving to another concealed job although her term in workplace does not end till next year.

Hours later on, the Kremlin launched video of President Vladimir Putin conference Ruslan Kukharuk, the mayor of the city of Tyumen, offering him Komarova's job.

I want you success and all the best in your new job, Putin informed Kukharuk.

When inquired about the change, Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov informed press reporters Putin had actually praised Komarova's work as governor.

Yugra is establishing and has been establishing all these years very dynamically, he stated, decreasing to discuss Komarova's future.

Komarova, who did not discuss why she stepped down, was censured by an anti-war activist in 2015 who required her to be prosecuted for discrediting the Russian army. That criticism followed she appeared to suggest Moscow had not needed or been all set for what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine.

Aides said her remarks had been secured of context and that Komarova supported the military.

In her resignation video, she thanked Putin for his trust and spoke of the efforts being made by Russian forces on the frontline.

Komarova, 68, was the only serving female governor and had been at the helm of the regional administration because 2010.

Before that, she had actually headed the committee on natural resources at Russia's State Duma lower home of parliament.

(source: Reuters)