PRIMORYE GOVERNOR HOSPITALIZED

Primorye governor Yevgeny Nazdratenko is currently undergoing a medical check at the cardiovascular surgery department of a local hospital (Primorye is a region in Russia's Far East). Mr. Nazdratenko felt bad at his office and was subsequently taken to hospital, RIA Novosti reports. On the previous day, a commission of Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry led by Sergei Shoigu had visited the territory plagued by energy crises where 16,000 people are still living in unheated apartments. Several hours before being taken to hospital Nazdratenko dismissed his deputy and close associate Viktor Chepik "for shortcomings in work." Mr. Chepik had been in charge of the housing and fuel resources.