the mayor of Stavropol until the next mayoral elections (held in September 2008). Dmitry Kuzmin proposed to appoint the vice-mayor of Sravropol, Utkin A.V., as Chair of State Duma of Stavropol Krai. 30 March 2007, Utkin A.V. was elected as Chair of State Duma of Stavropol Krai by the majority of votes. This was the first and the last time in the history of modern Russia when the regional Parliament was headed by a deputy who belonged to the opposition. The ruling party («United Russia») stroke back. On 17 May 2007 the Attorney General of Stavropol Region, Golovanev S.P., was dismissed from his post (order No.561-к, dated by 17.05.2007.) On 10 August 2007, in accordance with the decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, the list of the members of the Stavropol election committee was revised. The representatives of the ruling party («United Russia») were appointed to the majority of posts, including executive positions. On 20 July 2007, in accordance with decree by the President of Russia, the new chief of the Stavropol regional court was appointed. On 2 September 2007, in accordance with the order issued by the President of Russia, the elections to the fifth State Duma were announced. The elections were to be held on 2 December 2007. On 20 September 2007 the mayor of Stavropol, D.S. Kuzmin, topped the list of deputy candidates of the opposition party «A Just Russia» in Stavropol Region. On 2 October 2007, in Monterrey, Mexico, D.S. Kuzmin was presented with a certificate UN –Habitat that granted Stavropol's inclusion in the Honorary UN list based on the results of the successful execution of the 5-year plan concerning regarding the socio-economical development of the region (the term of 2003–2008). On 2 October 2007, at the Congress of the ruling party, «United Russia» nominated S.K. Shoygu for deputy elections to oppose Kuzmin's candidature (Shoygu served as Minister of Emergency Situations from 1991 to 2012, from 2012 onwards Shoygu serves as Minister of Defence). On 30 October 2007, in Jeju, South Korea, at the United Cities and Local Governments Conference (UCLG) D.S. Kuzmin was appointed as a member of the international council and a member of the executive office for the term of 2007-2009 (the third term). On 20 November 2007 the President V. Putin announces that he regards the forthcoming elections (2 December 2007) to the fifth State Duma as a