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Mr Sobyanin asked the President to accept his resignation ahead of term. Mr Putin accepted his resignation and instructed him to remain as acting mayor of Moscow until the mayoral election, the date of which will be set by the Moscow City Duma.

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Mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin: Mr President, yesterday, I discussed the issue of holding an early mayoral election in Moscow with the Moscow City Duma deputies and representatives of the local authorities at a meeting of the Public Council.

This is the first time in the last 10 years that it is now legally possible to hold such an election, and after consultations, I decided that it would be the right thing to hold this election this year.

In this respect, Mr President, I ask you to accept my resignation ahead of term and name an acting mayor for the period until the election.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Sobyanin, you have been the mayor now for the last two-and-a-half years?

Sergei Sobyanin: Slightly longer.

Vladimir Putin: You have been working successfully overall, and so I ask you to continue this work. I will sign today an executive order naming you as acting mayor until the election, and I ask you to ensure that all of the city’s services continue working without problem.

No matter what the domestic political events are going on, in a huge city like Moscow, maintaining social and public order is essential. I hope you will manage. We have been working together for a long time now and I know your abilities.

Do you plan to run in the election?

Sergei Sobyanin: Yes, Mr President.

We have a number of big programmes underway in Moscow and it would not be right to abandon them midway. I therefore think I should run in the election.

Vladimir Putin: I wish you success.

Sergei Sobyanin: Thank you, Mr President.

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