Putin promotes ‘cousin’ in latest shake-up

AFP | Moscow, Russia

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed a woman the West has called his “close relative” to a top defence ministry post yesterday as part of an ongoing shake-up of Russia’s military leadership.

The appointment comes after Putin removed his longtime defence chief Sergei Shoigu last month, replacing him with economist Andrey Belousov, and following the arrest of several high-ranking military figures on corruption charges.

Putin issued decrees on Monday replacing four deputy defence ministers. He named Anna Tsivilyova, the reported daughter of his cousin, and Pavel Fradkov, the son of his former spy boss and prime minister, among their replacements.

A former finance ministry official, Leonid Gornin, was also appointed first deputy defence minister.