Medvedev Commented Defense Minister's Ouster

29.11.2012 Head of the Russian Government Dmitry Medvedev commented dismissal of ex-defense minister Anatoly Serdiukov in the interview to Kommersant.

Answering the question why Serdiukov was dismissed without presenting of accusation, the prime minister said "there are specific rules of conduct for such situation; they are typical for any country".

"If there are doubts about reputation of an official, a criminal case was initiated in his subordinate agency, it is a public affair, and the leader must decide whether to shelve or to dismiss the official. Just to exclude all doubts regarding impartiality of investigation", Medvedev said. "That's normal practice all around the world", he added.

Alongside with that, he pointed out that "reforms really started" in Serdiukov's defense ministry. "You can do nothing or you can introduce changes. Anatoly Serdiukov did introduce changes. Certainly, with some mistakes, but I have no doubts those reforms really started", Medvedev said.

"Of course, we must unscramble now what was right and what was wrong, but changes must go on irreversibly", he added.

"Presence or absence of financial violation is a matter of evidence that is being currently collected by law-enforcement agencies in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure. Investigators must do their job and then prove that in court", stressed the premier.

"The President and the Prime Minister are regularly reported on what is happening in different agencies. If there is any serious, we order to make an inspection", Medvedev told Kommersant.

As for him, the audit in defense ministry "began not today but much earlier". "Its results may be classified as an infringement or a crime only after the court's sentence. No other way", emphasized the premier.

Ex-defense minister Anatoly Serdiukov lost his position when it was reported in Oct 2012 about fraud schemes during realization of the ministry's realty, lands and shares resulted in five criminal cases. It was said about RUR 3 bln damage inflicted.

Then Investigative Committee declared that Serdiukov might be questioned on the fraud cases in defense ministry.

Later on, Medvedev said Anatoly Serdiukov had worthily executed duties of defense minister and laid emphasis on his professionalism during the peace-enforcement operation in Georgia in Aug 2008.