The newly appointed Russian president's representative in the North West Federal District Valentina Matviyenko (left) and her predecessor on this post Victor Cherkesov (right) arrive at the news conference summoned to announce Mrs Matviyenko's appointment.

The newly appointed Russian president's representative in the North West Federal District Valentina Matviyenko (right) and her predecessor on this post Victor Cherkesov (left) take part in the news conference summoned to announce Mrs Matviyenko's appointment.