MOSCOW, March 4 - The newly appointed head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional state administration Ihor Kolomoysky, a famous businessman and co-owner of the Privat Group, is "a unique swindler," Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters on Tuesday, recalling details of a deal between Kolomoysky and Evraz co-owner Roman Abramovich.

"In Dnipropetrovsk Mr. Kolomoysky was led to power as a governor. Well, he is simply a unique swindler, he even conned our oligarch Abramovich two or three years ago, or dumped (him), as they say in the circles of the educated intellegentsia. They made a deal, Abramovich transferred him several billion dollars but he (Kolomoysky) failed to see it through," the head of state said.

Kolomoisky's coming to power is a negative example of direct appointment of a regional head and the ensuing popular discontent among Ukrainians, he said.