Kemerovo Region governor Aman Tuleyev resigns over Russian mall fire

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted his resignation.

"In view of the statement by Kemerovo Region Governor Aman Tuleyev on the early termination of his powers… I decree to accept the resignation of Kemerovo Region Governor Tuleyev at his own request and appoint Tsivilyov, Sergei Yevgenyevich, as the region’s acting head until a newly elected governor assumes office," the presidential decree was quoted in a Russian news agency TASS report.

73-year-old Tuleyev has been serving as the governor of the region since 1997.

Tuleyev was quoted as saying by TASS that the decision to resign was "the only correct decision" under the present circumstances.

"It is impossible to remain at the governor’s position with such a heavy weight on the shoulders. This would be morally wrong," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who visited the accident site at Siberia's Kemerovo last month, had reportedly blasted the officials for 'criminal negligence'.

The inferno killed at least 64 people, including 41 children. The incident occurred on Mar 25.

People were shopping and watching movies at the Winter Cherry mall when the blaze first broke out.

Several people were wounded as the ceiling in two cinema halls caved in.

Laying a wreath at the scene, Putin reportedly asked, "What is happening here?"

"This is no battle or an unexpected methane outburst in a mine," he said. "People, children came to relax. We are talking about demography and are losing so many people because of what? Because of criminal negligence, sloppiness."

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