Corruption at the highest levels in Russia only becomes a problem when it becomes a weapon. For example, to get unwanted people out of the way. A few days ago, a deputy defense minister in Moscow was arrested for bribery, and now General Yuri Kuznetsov was arrested for the same reasons.
Putin’s start the major cleaning
A few days after his (fifth) inauguration, Vladimir Putin began a major personnel clean-up – there are relatively small figures among them, but also old, close confidants of the Kremlin boss. Some are allowed to continue, others are transferred and some are promoted.
The end of Sergei Shoigu as defense minister came half as a surprise, half as expected. After twelve years, he hands over the office to the economic technocrat Andrei Beloussov. Shoigu, a personal friend of Putin, does not have to worry about the future: he will become secretary of the Russian Security Council and thus remain in the Kremlin’s leadership circle.
Hardliner Patrushev responsible for shipbuilding
Nikolai Patrushev, on the other hand, is probably quite upset about his dismissal as head of the Security Council. The 72-year-old is also an old companion of the Russian president and is considered a pioneer of Russian neo-imperialism. In the future, he will stay close to the center of power as Putin’s advisor, but his new area of responsibility, shipbuilding, is not nearly as shiny as his old position.
The leader of the restructuring is Putin’s long-time bodyguard Alexei Dyumin. Previously the governor of the Tula region, he will in future also be an advisor to the Kremlin as an “eminence grise”. In his new post, he will keep an eye on the arms industry, which the Russian president has defined as a crucial area for the war.
See the photo series: new faces, old faces – Putin’s circle of power.
Sources: Reuters, , DPA, AFP
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
