Putin appoints an economist as Russia’s new defense minister

The President of Russia, Vladimir Putindecided this Sunday to replace one of its members nearest circlethe Minister of Defense, Sergei Shoiguby a trusted economist, Andrei Belousov. “Today, on the battlefield, the one who is most open to innovation, most open to implementing (new developments) as quickly as possible wins,” Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained yesterday.

At the same time, the Kremlin released the decree on Shoigu’s dismissal and his appointment as the new secretary of the Russian Security Council, replacing Nikolai Patrushev, who is considered one of the most influential men in the country and whose fate is expected to be revealed in ‘the Russian Security Council’. coming years.” days”.

Peskov argued that Russian defense spending is increasing, which requires a new approach to the functioning of the Defense Ministry. “It is very important to now integrate the defense economy into the country’s economy in a way that reflects the dynamics of the moment,” he stressed.

In this sense, he recalled that Belousov, the First Deputy Prime Minister, successfully headed the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia in the past and served for a long time as a presidential adviser on economic affairs. “At the current stage, the President has decided that the Ministry of Defense should be headed by a civilian,” he stated, adding that one of the tasks of Belousov, so far the number two in the government, will be modernize Defense portfolio and make it more competitive.

Shoigu was appointed defense minister in November 2012, months after Putin returned to the Kremlin after four years as prime minister. His replacement comes after 27 months of war, and after much criticism from hawks and experts about the Russian army’s lack of results on the battlefield. Now he will become secretary of Russia’s Security Council, one of the country’s most important bodies, along with the presidential administration and the government.