Short version of the news
On May 12, personnel changes took place in the Kremlin. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has decided to replace the current head of the Ministry of Defense Sergei Shoigu.
Russian media reported this. These changes are taking place as part of the reappointment of the Russian government after Putin “won the Russian presidential election,” reports 24 Channel.
Putin decided to replace Shoigu in the Russian Ministry of Defense
Russian propagandists said that Vladimir Putin has already chosen a candidate to replace Sergei Shoigu as Russian Defense Minister. The Russian dictator proposed Andrei Belousov, who previously served as the first deputy chairman of the Russian government.
In addition, Putin also fired Nikolai Patrushev from the post of Secretary of the Russian Security Council. The decree of the Russian dictator says that this is due to “Patrushev’s transfer to another job.”
At the same time, Putin decided to appoint Shoigu himself to Patrushev’s position. That is, the secretary of the Russian Security Council.
Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov also commented on the appointment of Belousov as head of the Russian Ministry of Defense. He noted that Putin decided that the ministry “would be headed by a civilian, because the department should be open to innovation and advanced ideas.”
Peskov also cynically hinted that the appointment of Belousov to the post of head of the Ministry of Defense will not change the “system of coordinates in the military component of the department.”
What is known about Andrey Belousov
- Belousov has held various government positions since 2020, being in such Russian ministries as the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Transport, the Federal Antimonopoly Service and the Federal Accreditation Service . He is also a Doctor of Economics.
- His responsibilities included shaping key aspects of socio-economic development, investment policy, financial market regulation, corporate governance and bankruptcy, exports and foreign economic activity , as well as development institutions.
- After Russia's major invasion of Ukraine, Belousov quickly came under sanctions. The European Union sanctions list identifies him as a long-time member of Putin's inner circle.
- Indirect evidence of this is his public speeches, where he dared to discuss topics that, as a rule, fall within the competence of the President of Russia.
What other personnel changes in the Russian government did Putin propose
On this day, Vladimir Putin proposed candidates for most positions in the Russian government.
Among the proposed personnel changes were also presented:
- for the post of Minister of Internal Affairs – Vladimir Aleksandrovich Kolokoltsev;
- for the post of Minister for Civil Defense, Emergency Situations and Disaster Relief – Alexander Vyacheslavovich Kurenkov ;
- for the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs – Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov;
- for the post of Minister of Justice – Konstantin Anatolyevich Chuychenko;
- for the position of director of the foreign intelligence service – Sergey Evgenievich Naryshkin;
- for the position of director of the federal security service – Alexander Bortnikov Vasilyevich;
- for the position of director of the federal service of the National Guard troops – Zolotov Viktor Vasilievich;
- for the position of director of the federal service security – Dmitry Viktorovich Kochnev;
- for the position of head of the main department of special programs of the President – Alexander Leonidovich Linz;
- the position of chairman of the Accounts Chamber is Boris Yuryevich Kovalchuk.
According to Russian propagandists, Russian senators will hold consultations on the candidates proposed by Putin at committee meetings on May 13 and at a meeting of the Federation Council on May 14.
