Penza, 28 October 2015. PenzaNews. The United Russia party General Council Presidium agreed to allow the Penza region governor Ivan Belozertsev to step off as the secretary for the regional party branch following his request.

© PenzaNewsBuy the photo

As noted in the request, the head of the region finds it impossible to combine the two highly-responsible offices, and describes his readiness to fully dedicate himself to work in the highest regional office.

The obligations of a secretary of the regional United Russia party branch will be temporarily assigned to Valery Lidin, chairman of the Penza region Legislative Assembly, while the regional branch of United Russia party is preparing for the conference to elect the new secretary.

Ivan Belozertsev had been working as the secretary of the Penza region United Russia party branch since May 28, 2011, having been re-elected once on November 29, 2012.

As PenzaNews agency reported earlier, Ivan Belozertsev received the support of unrivaled public majority during the September 13 gubernatorial election – nearly 600,000 voters, or over 86%.

In accordance with the regional charter, the Penza region governor is elected for 5 years and cannot take the office for more than two terms in a row.

The governor’s term is calculated from the day their inauguration takes place. Ivan Belozertsev’s inauguration in Penza took place on September 21.