06.11.2012
Anatoly Serdiukov was relieved of the Russian defense minister's duties today in order to provide conditions for impartial investigation of all problems in defense ministry, said president Putin on Nov 6 meeting with the newly appointed minister Sergei Shoigu.
"Taking into account the situation in defense ministry and the need for impartial inquiry into all issues, I have decided to relieve defense minister Serdiukov of his duties", said the president.
Earlier on, the Kremlin's official website reported about the appointment of Sergei Shoigu to the post of Russian Minister of Defense.
"This key agency, one of the most important ministries in the country, must be headed by a person able to continue recent progress, maintain dynamic development of the Armed Forces, and implement the ambitious rearmament plans we currently have", Putin said.
Speaking about "the situation in defense ministry", the president meant recent corruption scandal. On Oct 25, JSC
Oboronservis run by defense ministry was searched due to five fraud-related criminal cases. Investigators suspect the officials of misappropriation of over 3 bln rubles by selling defense ministry's property at spoil prices. About RUR 3 mln were found at apartments of ex-director of defense ministry's department of property affairs Yelena Vasilyeva. Other two persons arrested were ex-director of the
Expert Legal Support Center Yekaterina Smetanova and her husband, ex-director of the
Moscow Air Force Material Warehouse Maksim Zakutailo.
