Adygeya head may be replaced

Adygeya Leader Aslan Tkhakushinov may be replaced over health problems despite the fact that his term of office ends in January 2012, Kommersant reports.

Andrey Vorobyov, head of the United Russia Executive Committee, said that the party had consultations with Vladislav Surkov, deputy head of the presidential administration, and discussed a replacement for Tkhakushinov.

The Presidium of the United Russia General Council approved a list of candidates for the position.

Ilyas Badanokov, press-secretary of Tkhakushinov, abstained from commenting, clarifying that he has no information on the issue. Timofey Belov, press-secretary of the United Russia office in Adygeya, said that they have no comments.

Tkhakushinov, as well as head of Archangelsk Ilya Mikhalchuk, are among state officials with a low political rating that may be dismissed. Tkhakushinov was criticized for not being in the party list for the parliamentary polls.