Media: Fired Defense Minister Gets New Position

15.11.2012 Former Russian defense minister Anatoly Serdiukov is appointed Adviser to Director General of state-led corporation Rostehnologii, reports Lenta.ru referring to Interfax and an informed source.

According to the interviewee, the ex-minister has been already appointed to this post. He will begin executing new duties in the nearest time. However, the press could not find official confirmation of that, reports Interfax.

Serdiukov was dismissed on Nov 6, 2012 due to corruption scandal. Earlier in October, investigators initiated several criminal cases related to JSC Oboronservis that used to deal with logistics matters and property administration of Russian armed forces. Employees of the company are suspected of grand larceny; according to preliminary estimates, budget lost at least RUR 3 bln due to their actions.

It was recently assumed that the ex-minister could be charged as well. According to experts, legal status of Serdiukov depends on evidence of his arrested confidants. In addition, investigators checked apartments of Mrs. Yevgenia Vasilyeva, Serdiukov's neighbor and former head of defense ministry's property relations department. Mrs Vasilyeva was also a co-director of JSC Oboronservis.

Other persons arrested on accusations of fraud were Director General of the Expert Legal Support Center Mrs. Yekaterina Smetanova who used to study jurisprudence at St. Petersburg State University together with Vasilyeva, and her common-law husband ex-director of military depots Maksim Zakutailo.

Smetanova gave testimony on Nov 14. According to Interfax, she agreed to assist and help investigation.

As was reported on Nov 13, investigators were about to verify legality of realty purchased in Moscow by Serdiukov's sister Galina Puzikova. According to Izvestiya, in Dec 2011 Puzikova owned three apartments downtown Moscow in the same house with Yevgenia Vasilyeva.

Russian state-led corporation Rostehnologii was incorporated in 2007 on the basis of JSC Rosoboronexport. Director General is Sergei Chemezov. According to the company's website, its objective is assistance to designing, manufacturing and export of high-tech products by supporting of Russian companies at domestic and world markets. It also attracts investments to various sectors including defense industry.