The service handles the state registration of property rights and deals, religious and non-governmental organizations, including branches of international and foreign organizations and political parties. It also controls lawyers, notaries and civil registration offices.
Movchan, who headed the service since December 2004, announced his plans to resign in late February as the chief state registrar, without explaining the reasons.
The Finans magazine said earlier that Justice Minister Vladimir Ustinov disapproved of Movchan's striving for independence, and supported his decision to resign.
The Komsomolskaya Pravda daily cited Movchan's failure to implement the law on dacha amnesty as a reason for his dismissal.
The law, which came into effect September 1, 2006, allows Russian citizens to register their property rights to any building at their dachas not related to business activities, and to receive those rights without having to privatize.
President Putin has repeatedly criticized the implementation of the law, because property owners continued to face problems with the registration process.
