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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday changed his longtime ally, Protection Minister Sergei Shoigu, in probably the most important reshuffle of the navy management since Russian troops moved into Ukraine greater than two years in the past.

As Index reported, the Russian president nominated Andrey Belousov, the previous primary deputy prime minister, to switch the long-serving protection minister, Sergei Shoigu. The elimination of Shoigu, a longtime ally of the Russian president, comes virtually per week after Putin was sworn in for a fifth time period in workplace, additional cementing his greater than 20 years of rule because the battle in Ukraine continues.

65-year-old Andrey Belousov has held many authorities positions up to now decade, from Minister of Financial Growth and Financial Assistant to the President to Appearing Prime Minister and First Deputy Prime Minister. When Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was requested by reporters not too long ago about Belousov’s lack of navy expertise, Peskov replied that he’s a civilian official who, on the head of the Ministry of Protection, would pave the best way for “innovation, the introduction of all superior concepts.” “It is vitally essential to combine the economic system of the safety bloc into the economic system of the nation in order that it meets the present wants,” stated Dmitry Peskov in The Moscow Occasions in accordance with

In keeping with a presidential decree, Putin additionally fired the pinnacle of the Safety Council, Nikolai Patrusev, lengthy thought-about a key member of Putin’s internal circle, “in connection along with his switch to a different place.” Patrusev might be changed by Shoigu on the head of the Safety Council, the manager physique that oversees strategic and nationwide safety points. In keeping with Peskov, Patrusev will obtain a brand new place (however it’s not but identified what his duties might be).

Thus far, Sergej Sojgu has appeared irreplaceable as Minister of Protection

Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s longest-serving minister, took over as head of the Protection Ministry in 2012 after serving as Minister of Emergency Conditions. He led the Russian military through the battle in Ukraine that started in 2022. As protection minister, Shoigu was tasked with modernizing the Russian navy and was believed to be in direct contact with Putin, frequently going looking and fishing with him in Siberia.

Shoigu’s reputation in Russia elevated after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, which he was credited with orchestrating. However he has been closely criticized for Russian navy failures for the reason that February 2022 assault and for his failure to stamp out the widespread corruption that continues to plague the navy. Furthermore, in the summertime of 2023, he needed to face the rise up of the Wagner mercenary group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. The alternative takes place weeks after

Deputy Protection Minister Timur Ivanov, who was thought-about a detailed ally of Shoigu, was arrested on bribery prices. On paper, Sunday’s reshuffle places Sergej Sojgu able that’s formally thought-about higher-ranking than his position on the Protection Ministry. Political analysts say Shoigu’s switch to the Safety Council proves that the physique is merely a spot the place Putin retains former key officers who can’t be fired outright.

Andrey Belousov, who is predicted to handle the battle – and to not steal the cash

In keeping with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin determined to nominate veteran economist Andrei Belousov as the pinnacle of the Ministry of Protection after Russia’s battle spending elevated considerably, writes the The Guardian. “Whoever is extra open to innovation would be the winner on the battlefield,” the Kremlin spokesman added.

“What’s essential for Putin now could be that the large sums spent on battle are usually not stolen,” Russian journalist Andrey Kolesnikov, an skilled on Russian politics and a senior fellow on the Carnegie Endowment for Worldwide Peace, wrote on X.

Belousov was accountable for technological improvement. In keeping with the Kremlin, he’ll technologize the economic system and switch it right into a navy economic system. The military will drive GDP development. That is the Star Wars economic system

– wrote the Russian journalist, after which additionally identified: it was exactly this, i.e. the Star Wars economic system, that “brought about the Soviet Union to blow up”.

Andrei Belousov graduated with honors from the School of Economics of Moscow State College in 1981. Though he was launched to the world of sambo and karate at a younger age, he didn’t serve within the armed forces. In 2000, he grew to become a private adviser to the Russian Prime Minister, and 6 years later he was appointed to the Ministry of Financial system as Deputy Minister. Between 2008 and 2012, he was the director of the Ministry of Financial system and Finance below Putin’s Prime Ministership. In 2012, he was appointed Minister of Financial system. Belousov was an adviser to the Russian president from 2013 to 2020. From 2020, he labored as First Deputy Prime Minister.

Most officers remained of their posts

Other than a significant reorganization within the Ministry of Protection, most senior officers have retained their positions.

Amongst different issues, Vladimir Putin reappointed Sergei Lavrov as Overseas Minister, Alexander Bortnikov as head of the Federal Safety Service (FSSB), Sergei Nariskin as head of the Overseas Intelligence Service, Konstantin Chuichenko as Minister of Justice and Alexander Kurenkov as Minister of Emergency Conditions. Yuriy Kovalchuk’s son was appointed chairman of the Russian Audit Workplace, a publish that has been vacant for the reason that earlier chairman, system critic liberal Alexei Kudrin, was fired in November 2022.

On Saturday, the Russian president issued a decree on the construction of the federal authorities, which gives for 10 deputy prime minister and 21 minister positions. In keeping with the earlier apply, the ministries accountable for international affairs, protection, inside affairs, justice and the administration of emergency conditions are accountable to the pinnacle of state, and the others to the pinnacle of presidency. As well as, Putin assigned the Service for Coordinating Navy Trade Cooperation with Overseas International locations (FSzVTSz) from the Ministry of Protection to the Workplace of the President.

Everybody’s speaking in regards to the protection minister, however there’s one thing else right here

The worldwide press’s consideration was primarily attracted by the departure of Sergej Sojgu, however a virtually as important improvement is the truth that the pinnacle of the Safety Council was additionally changed by Putin.

72-year-old Nikolai Patrusev has held management positions for many years and has lengthy been a member of the Russian president’s internal circle. He has been main the Safety Council since 2008,

and lots of imagine that he additionally helped plan the invasion of Ukraine.

Dmitry Peskov informed Russian state media late Sunday that Patrusev’s new position can be introduced “within the subsequent few days.” In keeping with some analysts, Patrusev might even be promoted, and it’s doable that he might seem in a very new place. By the way, the Kremlin introduced initially of final week that his son, former Minister of Agriculture Dmitri Patrusev, might be promoted to Deputy Prime Minister.

We may also observe the developments of the battle in Ukraine minute by minute on this article.

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