The president of Russia, Vladimir Putindecided this Sunday to replace one of the members of his closest circle, the Minister of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, with a trusted economist, Andrei Belousov.
“Today, on the battlefield, the one who is most open to innovation, most open to implementing (new developments) as quickly as possible wins,” explained Putin’s spokesman, Dmitri Peskov.
Simultaneously, the Kremlin released the decree of Shoigu’s dismissal and his appointment as the new secretary of the Russian Security Council, in place of Nikolai Patrushev, considered one of the most influential men in the country and whose fate the Presidency promised to reveal in “the next days”.
Peskov argued that Russia’s defense spending is increasing, requiring a new approach to the functioning of the Defense Ministry.
“It is very important to now incorporate the defense economy into the country’s economy, and do so in such a way that it corresponds to the dynamics of the moment,” he insisted.
In this sense, he recalled that Belousov, first deputy prime minister, in the past successfully headed the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, and for a long time served as presidential advisor on economic affairs.
“At the current stage, the president decided that the Ministry of Defense should be headed by a civilian,” he stated, adding that one of the tasks of Belousov, until now the number two in the Government, will be to modernize the Defense portfolio and make it more competitive.
Regarding military issues, he assured that these are the prerogative of the Army General Staff, where at the moment no changes are foreseen.
Belousov, 65, has been under international sanctions for the war in Ukraine since June 2022.
Goodbye to the ‘war minister’
Shoigu, 68, was appointed Defense Minister in November 2012, months after Putin returned to the Kremlin after four years as prime minister.
His replacement comes after 27 months of war, and after much criticism from hawks and experts about the lack of results of the Russian Army on the battlefield.
One of his biggest critics was Wagner’s late founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, who last year repeatedly accused Shoigu of negligence and publicly demanded his dismissal.
Shoigu’s departure from Ministry of Defence It also comes a few weeks after the arrest of one of his deputies – Timur Ivanov – on accusations of large-scale corruption.
In the absence of knowing the punishment for Ivanov, the arrest of the vice minister considered Shoigu’s right-hand man was already for many an indicator of the winds of change that began to blow in one of the most secretive ministries in the country.
At the same time, in his new position Shoigu will control the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia, which after recent changes is no longer subordinate to the Ministry of Defense.
No changes in Foreign Affairs and Intelligence
Under the latest constitutional reforms, appointments of the Minister of Defense, as well as other key portfolio holders, are made by the head of state in consultation with the Senate.
In addition to Belousov’s candidacy, the big news, Putin proposed keeping in their positions the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov, of the Interior, Viktor Kolokoltsev, and of Emergency Situations, Alexandr Kurenkov.
In addition, the president asked the Senate to confirm Sergei Narishkin and Alexandr Bortnikov as heads of the Foreign Espionage Service and the Federal Security Service, respectively.
Putin also proposed to the senators that the director of the National Guard, Viktor Zolotov, repeat his position.
Source: Gestion
Ricardo is a renowned author and journalist, known for his exceptional writing on top-news stories. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he is known for his ability to deliver breaking news and insightful analysis on the most pressing issues of the day.
