President Dmitry Medvedev fired Saratov Region Governor Pavel Ipatov on Friday, provisionally replacing him with Valery Radaev, the Kremlin press service said.
"The decision was taken to accept the resignation of Saratov Region governor Pavel Leonidovich Ipatov at his own request," the President's order said.
Ipatov said he did not wish to comment on his resignation. "I don't want to comment on what happened," he said. "It was a planned move. I didn't think it was necessary to talk about it previously."
Radaev is the chairman of the Saratov Regional Duma and is also the leader of the local United Russia party branch.
The President's press secretary Natalya Timakova said in February that Medvedev did not plan to fire any more local governors after the departure of Primorye Region governor Sergei Darkin. Several other governors have also been fired in recent months.
Ipatov, a United Russia member, has held the post since 2005. On March 23, 2010 Saratov Region deputies approved an extension of his appointment for a second term.
