Kremlin spokesman Dimitry Peskov refused to elaborate on Patrushev’s destiny, saying solely that particulars can be introduced within the coming days. His son, Dmitry Patrushev, has been promoted to deputy prime minister from agriculture minister as a part of the identical reshuffle.
The appointment of Belousov, a veteran financial adviser, to the highest protection job is being interpreted as an indication that Putin is trying to swap gears, greater than two years into the warfare towards Ukraine and simply wanting a 12 months after a failed mutiny by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
“This transfer permits Putin to maintain Shoigu on aspect, whereas bringing in somebody who might be able to cope with the impression of corruption throughout the Russian Ministry of Protection,” stated Philip Ingram, a former British army intelligence colonel and NATO planner.
“Whoever is extra open to innovation is the one who’s victorious on the battlefield,” Peskov informed journalists, commenting on the logic behind Belousov’s appointment.
Different key Putin allies, together with Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chief of the Common Workers Valery Gerasimov, have up to now stored their roles within the reshuffle, which comes quickly after Putin was sworn in for an unprecedented fifth time period.
In a speech from the gilded throne room within the Kremlin, Putin claimed his re-election was proof Russian residents “have confirmed the correctness of the nation’s course” and recognition that “we face critical challenges.” The nationwide poll in March was marred by experiences of widespread vote rigging, the banning of worldwide observers and the truth that opposition politicians had been barred from standing, compelled into exile or, within the case of anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny, died behind bars simply weeks earlier than the election.
