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Putin Reshuffles Several Top Posts in Power Structures
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday reshuffled several top posts in the power structures, staging the first heavy personnel change since he was elected the President a year ago.
Former Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Ivanov, one of Putin's closest allies, has been appointed as defense minister, while his predecessor, Igor Sergeyev will become a presidential aide on strategic stability.
Boris Gryzlov, leader of the key pro-government Unity parliamentary faction, replaced career policeman Vladimir Rushailo as the interior minister. Rushailo took over Ivanov's post as the Russian Security Council secretary.
"The time has come for serious personnel changes which should become a logical conclusion of the modernization of the military structure," Putin said when announcing the reshuffle in a Kremlin conference.
The president said he hoped that Ivanov, seen as developer of the concept of military reform, would well handle the practical implementation of the reforms.
In addition, the president unprecedentedly appointed Lyubov Kudelina, former deputy finance minister, as deputy defense minister, making her the first woman in this post in Russia's history.
Together with her as the new deputy defense ministers were Col. General Igor Puzanov, former commander of the Moscow Military District and Lt. General Alexei Moskovtsev, also deputy secretary of the Security Council.
Vyacheslav Soltaganov, head of the increasingly import tax police, was replaced by Mikhail Fradkov, former first deputy secretary of the Security Council.
Putin said Soltaganov is now working in the Security Council and will be responsible for the prevention of corruption and money laundering.
Alexander Rumyantsev, a scientist and director of the Kurchatov Nuclear Search Institute, was named as new atomic energy minister in replace of Yevgeny Adamov, who had earlier presented his resignation.
Putin also appointed new commanders of Russia's land and space forces.
After Wednesday's appointments, especially with the removal of Sergeyev and the appointment of Boris Gryzlov, all Russian defense and security agencies are now headed by civilians.
Putin said such a change is a step toward demilitarization of public life, as it is in many countries.
Putin meanwhile promised more eye-catching personnel changes, but gave no details.
The national Itar-tass quoted a high-ranking Kremlin official as saying that "today's appointment are not part of the Cabinet restructuring, which is at the planning stage at the moment."
He meanwhile said no more "super-serious changes" in the government would come out in the near future. All government- related changes announced today had been discussed with the Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, he added.
Rumors about an "annual make-over" have done the rounds and appeared in print for some weeks, but the scope of the changes was still something of a surprise.
Some media here quoted the Kremlin sources as saying that Putin may announce during his April 3 state of the nation address, or sooner after, plans to streamline the presidential and government teams.
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