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Putin with former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. (file photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has removed the country’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu from the post. Andrei Belousou has been appointed the new Defense Minister of the country in place of Sergei. On Sunday night, Russia issued an official statement giving this information. Belousou has previously held the post of Deputy Prime Minister.
Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that by order of the President, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has been relieved of his post. Shoigu has now been made the secretary of the country’s Security Council. Along with being the Secretary of the Security Council, he will also hold the responsibility of Russia’s Military-Industrial Complex.
Last month, Shoigu’s deputy Timur Ivanov was arrested on bribery charges. According to Russian media, Ivanov was accused of taking a bribe of 1 million rubles (about $10,800).
After this, it was believed that Shoigu could also be removed from the post soon. Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of Russia’s private army ‘Wagner’, also criticized Shoigu before his death.
Andrei Belousou has been made the new Defense Minister of the country due to his understanding in economic matters.
Russia’s new Defense Minister has no military background, then why did Putin give him the responsibility?
According to news agency Reuters, Andrei Bolasau has no experience in the military, he is an economist. Russian spokesperson Peskov says that the military needs innovation. That’s why Belousou has been chosen. He said, “Russia’s defense budget is close to reaching the budget level of the Cold War. At that time the share of military in the country’s total expenditure was 7.4 percent. Now this expenditure is about 6.4 percent.
It is important to control it. For this reason, Putin has now given the responsibility of the Defense Ministry to Belousou, who has knowledge of economic policies. According to Peskov, Belousov has successfully led Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development. He was a longtime ally of Putin on economic issues, and was also first deputy chairman of the government in the previous cabinet.”
Due to the war, Russia is facing economic sanctions from western countries. In such a situation, Putin does not want the funds received by the Defense Ministry to be misused. In fact, Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of Russia’s private military ‘Wagner’, had accused Sergei Shoigu of corruption.
In February 2023, Prigozhin accused Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of trying to eliminate Wagner by not sending weapons to his fighters. Prigozhin had said that Shoigu does not have the ability to win the war. According to BBC, the enmity between Shoigu and Prigozhin had started becoming an obstacle in the Ukraine war. The battle to conquer the city of Bakhmut deepened this enmity.
The result was that on June 24, Prigozhin along with his fighters rebelled against Russia. Wagner had taken over the city of Rostov in Russia. However, they were reconciled before reaching Moscow. However, just two months later, on August 23, Prigozhin died in a plane crash.
Yevgeny Prigozhin shared this picture after the capture of Soledar by private military.
Sergei Shoigu was holding the post of Defense Minister of the country since 2012.
Peskov said the new appointment does not indicate a change in Russia’s existing military system. Russia’s military operations will be the responsibility of Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov.
Wagner Group armored vehicles outside the Russian Army Headquarters
Putin took oath as President for the fifth time
Vladimir Putin was sworn in as President of Russia for the fifth time on May 7. Putin got 88% votes in the voting held on March 15-17. His opponent Nikolay Kharitonov received 4% of the votes. Vladislav Davankov and Leonid Slutsky finished third and fourth.
After the results were declared, Putin had said – Now Russia will become even more powerful and influential. While discussing the Russia-NATO dispute, he had also said – If the US-led military organization NATO and Russia come face to face, then the world will be one step away from the Third World War. I don’t think anyone would want that.