Putin fired Shoigu from the post of Defense Minister

Vladimir Putin presented to the Federation Council the candidacy of former Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov for the post of Minister of Defense instead of Sergei Shoigu. In addition, “in connection with the transition to another job,” Putin dismissed Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev from his post. Shoigu will take his place.

Vladimir Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov explained the decision to appoint a civilian official to the post of head of the Ministry of Defense by the “need to introduce innovation.”

“This is not just a civilian, but a person who very successfully headed the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, who for a long time was the assistant to the president on economic issues, and was also the first deputy chairman of the government in the previous cabinet of ministers. The Ministry of Defense must be absolutely open to innovation, to introduce all advanced ideas, to create conditions for economic competitiveness,” he noted .

At the same time, Peskov added that Belousov’s appointment to the post of head of the Ministry of Defense will not change “the coordinate system in the military component of the department,” since it “has always been the prerogative of the Chief of the General Staff,” who “will continue his activities.”

In addition, Putin proposed appointing Boris Kovalchuk, the son of Putin’s closest friend Yuri Kovalchuk, to the post of head of the Accounts Chamber. Sergei Lavrov should be left as head of the Foreign Ministry. Alexandra Bortnikova - as head of the FSB.

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