Arkhangelsk minister dismissed after Puting

The Minister of Culture of the Arkhangelsk Region Leo Vostryakov was fired in connection with the rally on the anniversary of the annexation of Crimea, the Flashnord agency reports. The minister instructed to send employees of regional institutions of culture and education there.

"Officially, Vostryakov was dismissed due to the achievement of retirement age, in fact, for a stupid indication of sending employees of subordinate institutions to a rally in support of Crimea," the agency’s interlocutor in the regional government said.

The rally in honor of the anniversary of the annexation of Crimea took place on March 18. The Ministry of Culture of the Arkhangelsk Region set a quota of 20 people for employees of cultural institutions and 50 people for employees of educational institutions. The corresponding letter was signed by Deputy Minister of Culture Vitaly Okrechuk, the agency notes.

Vostryakov headed the regional department since April 2012.