Russian tycoon Usmanov Alişer, owner of Kommersant, dismissed the director and editor in chief of Kommersant Vlasta, after they published photos with comments offensive against Vladimir Putin, according to RIA Novosti.
"These materials are comparable with hooliganism," Usmanov said.

Kudriavţev Demian, director, has apologized on Tuesday. "The internal procedures and rules Kommersant, Russia's standards of journalism and law have been violated. The management regrets and apology readers and partners," he said.

The two dismissed - Galiev and Kovalski - have not commented.

On 12 December, the newspaper has posted several photos that accompanied an article about the elections of 4 December. A picture presenting a ballot box with obscene remarks against Putin.
The whole issue of the magazine was devoted to analyzing the results and alleged irregularities in the election won by Putin's party.

Kommersant deputy editor Vlasta, Veeronika Kutsillo, denied charges of hooliganism. "I do not think it was a challenge. It was a quote," she said.

Usmanov said he could be sued against Kovalski.