Penza, 14 August 2014. PenzaNews. Igor Plotnitsky, Minister of Defense of People’s Republic of Lugansk (PRL), a graduate of Penza Voronov Chief Marshall higher artillery engineering college and an officer with higher military special education, may become the head of the PRL, stated Valery Bolotov, head of the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Lugansk, who also announced that he intends to resign.

“I decided to temporarily leave leading position of the People’s Republic of Lugansk. My injury do not allow me to work as hard as can for the benefit of Lugansk during this difficult wartime,” Valery Bolotov said during a press conference on Thursday, August 14.

He said that he has already consulted with colleagues from the executive branch and “decided to address Igor Plotnitsky, the current Minister of Defense, with a proposal to lead our republic.”