On 3 October 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin replaced him by Alexander Beglov on an interim basis until the 2019 city election.

After graduation he worked at Leninets Research and Production Association and at a district Komsomol (Young Communists' League) committee in Leningrad.

[3] On 27 August 2011, the United Russia party supported Poltavchenko's candidacy for the post of governor of St. Petersburg.

On 30 August, President Dmitry Medvedev approved Poltavchenko's candidacy as governor of St.

[7] From 28 July 2012 to 22 February 2013, Poltavchenko was a Member of the Presidium of the State Council of the Russian Federation.

[11] At the same time, critics noted that the elections were virtually uncontested since the leading opposition candidate, Oksana Dmitriyeva, a representative of the A Just Russia party, could not overcome the municipal filter.

[15] One of the main reforms for which the citizens of St. Petersburg are grateful to Poltavchenko is the rejection of reagents on the roads in the winter.

The streets of the northern capital were no longer sprinkled with salt, which allowed the city to maintain its grand appearance and remain snow-white throughout the winter.

[15] In March 2012, Poltavchenko drew the ire of the LGBT community in Russia after he approved a controversial law penalizing the propaganda of homosexuality.