President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia has nominated a close aide to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as the next mayor of the capital, Moscow.
Sergei Sobyanin, 52, has been picked to replace Yuri Luzhkov who was dismissed last month by Mr Medvedev.
Mr Sobyanin's appointment is expected to be approved by Moscow City legislators.
Mr Medvedev said he removed Mr Luzhkov, 74, who had been in office since 1992, because he lost his "trust".
The BBC reports Mr Sobyanin has the experience of running a major Russian region, having served as governor of the Tyumen oblast.
He moved to Moscow in 2005 to become chief of staff to then-President Putin.
In 2008, he ran Mr Medvedev's successful campaign in the presidential polls.
