Sergei Furgal, governor for the past two years, is considered the "organizer of an attempted murder and the murder of a number of businesspeople" in 2004 and 2005, according to a statement by Russia's top investigative agency.
Four alleged members of the criminal group were previously arrested on suspicion of involvement in the murders, committed in Khabarovsk and the neighbouring Amur region, the Investigative Committee said in a statement.
Furgal, 50, was to be brought to the capital, Moscow, for further investigative procedures. He was to be officially charged, with a court appointed to decide whether he should remain in custody, the statement said.
Furgal, of the populist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), won the 2018 election against the long-time incumbent, Vyacheslav Shport, who had represented the party most loyal to President Vladimir Putin, United Russia.
Furgal was reportedly elected upon a rise of anti-establishment sentiment in the region.
Furgal was detained outside his home, Russian state news agency TASS reported. Images from the scene showed him wearing a suit and tie while being pulled from a black Lexus SUV by armed officers in camouflage, their faces covered with headgear.
Four alleged members of the criminal group were previously arrested on suspicion of involvement in the murders, committed in Khabarovsk and the neighbouring Amur region, the Investigative Committee said in a statement.
Furgal, 50, was to be brought to the capital, Moscow, for further investigative procedures. He was to be officially charged, with a court appointed to decide whether he should remain in custody, the statement said.
Furgal, of the populist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), won the 2018 election against the long-time incumbent, Vyacheslav Shport, who had represented the party most loyal to President Vladimir Putin, United Russia.
Furgal was reportedly elected upon a rise of anti-establishment sentiment in the region.
Furgal was detained outside his home, Russian state news agency TASS reported. Images from the scene showed him wearing a suit and tie while being pulled from a black Lexus SUV by armed officers in camouflage, their faces covered with headgear.