A group of lawmakers of South Russia’s Kalmykia stormed the City Hall of the republic’s capital Elista on Tuesday evening after they failed to agree on a candidacy of city manager with other members of regional parliament.
Of the 24 regional legislature members, 13 say that the tender committee violated the procedure of nominating candidates, while others insist that one of the two proposed candidates must be approved.
A vote to approve one of the two candidates to the post - Mingiyan Yashayev and Sergei Chi-Zho-Odo - has been disrupted twice over a lack of quorum.
Each side has appointed its own city manager. Yashayev, supported by 11 lawmakers and the city mayor, has already moved in the city manager’s office in the City Hall.
Artur Dordzhiyev, voted to the post by the rival lawmaker group, tried to break into the City Hall building on Tuesday to occupy the office in question, but was stopped by the City Hall’s security personnel and police.
Some of his supporters were detained by police for trying to break the City Hall’s doors.
The rival groups have discussed the issue throughout the day but failed to come to an agreement.
The lawmakers have left the building by midnight and it is being heavily guarded by private security guards and police.
