The decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin elevates Vitaliy Khotsenko, who previously led the government in the Donetsk People’s Republic, to the position of acting governor of the Omsk region. The Kremlin’s publication confirms the appointment and specifies that Khotsenko will serve in this capacity until the region’s elected governor takes office. This move marks a transition in leadership for a region that has seen a consistent course of continuity in its administration.
Khotsenko steps into the role following the departure of Alexander Burkov, who has headed the Omsk region since 2017. The Kremlin stated that Burkov requested to leave, outlining a voluntary transition rather than removal from office. The change places Khotsenko in a position with a strong focus on regional governance during a period that often calls for stable administration and a steady hand in local affairs.
Vitaliy Khotsenko is a graduate of the fourth stream of the Governors School program and was a finalist in the Leaders of Russia competition in 2018-2019. His educational background reflects a pipeline more broadly associated with public administration leadership, signaling a familiarity with executive decision making at multiple levels of government. This experience is paired with a track record of service in key roles that suggest a readiness to oversee the Omsk region during a transitional phase.
In June 2022, Khotsenko accepted the role of head of the Donetsk People’s Republic government as part of a broader staff reinforcement for governance in the Donbass and Novorossia regions. Before taking that position, he held senior posts in the executive offices of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and the Stavropol Territory, and he has held various positions within the federal civil service. This background indicates experience across different federal and regional administrations, which could influence how he approaches the Omsk region’s administrative priorities and development plans.
Earlier, another graduate of the Governors School, Vladislav Kuznetsov, took on the post of head of Chukotka. This connection underscores a pattern of appointing Governors School alumni to regional leadership roles, a development observers often note as part of a broader talent pipeline within the governance ecosystem. The arrangement signals continuity in the leadership strategy, with the aim of leveraging established federal training pathways to manage regional governance challenges.