3 arrested for plotting to kill St Petersburg Governor

Moscow, May 19 (UNI) Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB, ex-KGB) has arrested three suspects plotting to kill the Governor of St Petersburg, Valentina Matvienko, a high-profile close ally of President Vladimir Putin.

Interfax news agency reported a city law-enforcement source confirming the arrest of suspected plotters to assassinate Ms Matvienko, but he refused to disclose the details of the plot, the names of the suspects and their possible affiliation with a particular criminal group, as investigation was going on.

The operation was conducted by officers from the FSB department for St Petersburg and the Leningrad region, and a criminal case had been launched against them, the source said.

Commenting on the arrests of the suspects, Ms Matvienko said she was aware of the detention of a group of people suspected of plotting to kill her.

"I am aware of this information, but I cannot give any comments until the investigation has been completed. When it has been finished, its results will be made public. I feel calm and safe, and everything is okay," she told reporters today.

Asked whether she will order strengthening her personal security service, she said she did not see the need for this, because "it is strong enough as it is." Matvienko, 58, was elected St Petersburg governor in 2003.

Recently, she had been criticized by her critics for questionable city development policies and allegedly receiving financial support from dubious sources.

Meanwhile, St Petersburg police department said the information about terrorist attacks appeared ahead of the CIS summit of national security services on May 23 which was suppose to discuss combating terrorism and international extremism.

UNI