MOSCOW, March 25 (RAPSI) – Russian President Vladimir Putin relieved Sakhalin Region Governor Alexander Khoroshavin who had been charged with bribery of his duties due to loss of trust, reads a statement posted on Wednesday on the Kremlin's website.

The most recent high-profile dismissal for this reason was that of Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov in 2010.

In early March, the Investigative Committee announced the arrest of Khoroshavin for the alleged receipt of a $5.6 million bribe. The Sakhalin governor was taken to Moscow and charged. He has denied the charges.

On March 18, the court froze Khoroshavin’s accounts at several banks including Sberbank, Gazprombank, Bank of Moscow and VTB Bank.

After Khoroshavin’s arrest, investigators received a number of reports on alleged violations during his term as governor, Investigative Committee spokesperson Vladimir Markin said.

The Sakhalin Region in Russia’s Far East is a national leader in the production of oil and gas, fish and other sea food. It is one of Russia’s easternmost regions and the only region located entirely on islands – Sakhalin Island and the Kurile Islands.