Putin Replaces Head of Udmurtia Republic Following Surprise Resignation

July 29, 2026 Vladimir Putin and acting head of the republic of Udmurtia Olga Abramova. kremlin.ru President Vladimir Putin has replaced the head of the republic of Udmurtia after his sudden resignation on Wednesday. Alexander Brechalov stepped down “at his own request” after governing the western Urals region for nine years, according to a document published on the Kremlin’s website. In a statement, Udmurtia’s regional government said Brechalov, a native of the North Caucasus republic of Adygea, was “moving to a new job,” but it did not provide further details. Putin appointed Udmurtia native and former agricultural official Olga Abramova as acting governor until regional elections next year. Abramova served as Udmurtia’s agriculture minister and first deputy prime minister before moving to Moscow in 2024 to advise Russia’s minister of agriculture. During a televised Kremlin meeting, Putin emphasized Abramova’s local roots while noting that defense manufacturing accounts for a “large share” of the republic's economy. Udmurtia’s capital, Izhevsk, hosts several major arms producers, most notably Kalashnikov Concern, which manufactures assault rifles, guided missiles and combat drones. Political strategist Yevgeny Minchenko warned earlier this month that Brechalov’s “micromanagement” of the Izhevsk mayor’s office could create problems for him and his future as regional head. In June, Minchenko’s gubernatorial rankings noted Brechalov faced a “moderate” risk of dismissal due to weak performance, administrative infighting and the arrests of local elites. Still, Brechalov’s resignation came as a surprise for some political observers. Brechalov originally took office in April 2017 after his predecessor, Alexander Solovyov, was arrested on bribery charges. When Brechalov ran for re-election in September 2022, he secured the narrowest margin of victory among all 14 incumbent governors on the ballot, winning 64.37% of the vote. Read more about: Udmurtia , Regions Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Mayor of Central Russia’s Vladimir Arrested in Alleged ‘Cemetery Mafia’ Probe Local media suggested that Mayor Dmitry Naumov’s reported arrest may be linked to an organized crime group described as a “cemetery mafia.” 1 Min read Death Toll From Ryazan Plant Explosion Rises to 23 Emergency officials said that first responders had cleared about half of the blast site and were using K-9 units to search for survivors. 1 Min read Feature ‘Intoxicating Victory’: How Bashkir Activists Led a Historic Protest Movement at Kushtau This August marks five years since the Kushtau protests in Bashkortostan, one of the few successful grassroots protests in Russia’s modern history. ... 8 Min read Can Urban Renewal Plug Russia’s Brain Drain? Regional officials hope that beautifying towns can stop people from leaving.