Photo of Governor of Astrakhan Region in Nazi uniform caused resonance in blogosphere

A photo of Alexander Zhilkin, Governor of Astrakhan Region, dressed in the uniform of the Nazi army, caused resonance in the Russian blogosphere. There are no official comments; however, the governor's friends assert that the photo was made at a revue-sketch comedy 20 years ago.

"I'll be strongly surprised, if Astrakhan residents don't demand explanations from Zhilkin," wrote Darya Mitina, the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Youth Union, who posted the photo in her "Livejournal".

The press office of the Governor of the Astrakhan Region refused to comment on the appearance of the scandalous photo.

The authenticity of the photo was confirmed by the Astrakhan political analyst Alexander Tukaev, who is personally familiar with Zhilkin. According to his version, the photo was taken in 1991 at a Komsomol skit, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

In their turn, users have differently assessed the Mitina's post placed in the "Livejournal". "Just an ordinary masquerade... Some people dress as Dracula. Should we then blame them as bloodsuckers?" asked the blogger under the nick cczy.

"It's not serious, Darya. If you don't like Zhilkin, then, dig some real compromising materials on him; desirably, of economic character. Now, it looks more like some kindergarten," wrote the user lvfi.