NEWSLINK: Defense chief firing key step in Russia’s military reform - experts [Shoigu replaces Serdyukov]
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(Defense chief firing key step in Russia’s military reform experts – Russia Today – November 6, 2012 – http://rt.com/politics/serdyukov-defense-shoigu-minister-061/)
Kremlin-backed media source Russia Today reports on the replacement of Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov with former Emergencies Ministry chief Sergey Shoigu:
President Vladimir Putin sacked Serdyukov after his ministry was drawn into a major scandal over alleged selling off of Defense Ministry’s assets.
Putin, as well as his predecessor Dmitry Medvedev, has named countering corruption in Russia as one of his main goals. The dismissal of such a high-ranking official and Putin’s long-time ally indicates there are no “untouchables” in this battle.
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This case might be seen as a signal to civil servants and society in general that even allegations of being involved in corruption “must lead to real actions,” a senior MP from the United Russia party, Aleksey Chesnakov told Itar-Tass.
The move was welcomed in Russian political circles, where Shoigy known for his “crystal-clear” reputation is seen as a far better candidate than Serdyukov to head the scandal-marred military establishment. A criminal probe into a suspected $100 million property scam at Oboronservis which is a company run through the Defense Ministry has seriously damaged the ministry’s image. One of Shoigu’s major tasks now is to restore public confidence.
In that respect, appointing Shoigu who was awarded Hero of Russia is a “good step,” upper house’s speaker Aleksandr Torshin pointed out, cites Interfax. In addition, he “has no personal or career ties” in the ministry and that will seriously damage “corruption schemes” in the Russian Army.
Unlike Serdyukov, who was Russia’s first civilian Defense Minister, Shoigu holds the rank of General of the Army …
(click here for full article: http://rt.com/politics/serdyukov-defense-shoigu-minister-061/)