MURMANSK. April 5 (Interfax) - The deputy governor of the Murmansk region and chief of staff of the regional authorities, Nadezhda Aksyonova, will substitute Governor Andrei Chibis during his recovery from an armed attack.
Aksyonova has been appointed acting governor "due to the temporary disability of the head of the region," the regional authorities said on Telegram.
Aksyonova has been serving as the chief of staff of the Murmansk regional authorities since 2019. She was appointed deputy governor concurrently in 2022.
Chibis was attacked by a local resident with a knife while leaving the Stroitel cultural center in Apatity on Thursday evening after a meeting with the population. The assailant was quickly detained after the arresting officer of the Russian National Guard fired his service weapon.
The injured governor walked to his car and was taken to the Apatity-Kirovsk central hospital, where he underwent abdominal surgery in the small hours of Friday. Chibis woke up after the surgery and posted a video on Friday morning to thank everyone for their support.
The Russian Investigative Committee is investigating a case of attempted murder of an official.
The assailant is a 42-year-old resident of Apatity. The Rossiya 24 television channel (VGTRK) identified him as Alexander Bydanov.
The Russian Investigative Committee said that the detainee told the interrogating officers he "attacked the governor out of animosity, although he did not know him personally."
The detainee has a previous conviction of causing minor bodily harm.
The court in Apatity is to decide on a measure of restraint on Saturday.