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RUSSIAN MILITARY FACES MAJOR RESHUFFLE
Valery Gerasimov
RIA Novosti
20:27 09/11/2012
Sergei Shoigu: From Russia's Emergencies Chief to Region's Governor
MOSCOW, November 9 (RIA Novosti) - The dismissal of the chief of the
Armed Forces General Staff, General of the Army Nikolai Makarov, may
pave the way for major changes within the ranks of Russia's military
leadership amid financial scandals and conflicts over defense policy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sacked Makarov on Friday, replacing
him with former Central Military District commander Col. Gen. Valery
Gerasimov.
Gerasimov's promotion follows Monday's appointment of Sergei Shoigu as
Defense Minister, replacing Anatoly Serdyukov, who was dismissed amid
an investigation into nearly $100 million in fraudulent transactions
involving real estate owned by Oboronservis, a ministry-controlled
company.
Shoigu proposed Gerasimov, 57, for chief of the General Staff and
Putin approved the appointment on Friday. Gerasimov will also serve
as first deputy defense minister.
President Putin also dismissed Alexander Sukhorukov from the post of
first deputy defense minister on Friday, replacing him with Col. Gen.
Arkady Bakhin, former commander of the Western Military District.
Putin promoted the Commander of Russia's Space Forces, 55-year-old
Oleg Ostapenko, to the post of deputy defense minister, and relieved
several dozen people who had been employed as Serdyukov's advisors
of their duties.
This reshuffle may reflect a move away from dramatic military reform
to a more stable development trajectory for Russia's Armed Forces, in
which the strict implementation of set goals and efficient allocation
of defense spending are prioritized.
Gerasimov, a veteran of the second Chechen war who began his military
career as a platoon commander in 1977, has proven himself to be an
efficient military commander capable of maintaining a tight grip on
his subordinates.
Gerasimov is also known for his profound knowledge of missile defense
issues, as he was chosen to present a report on potential scenarios
for the interception of Russian ballistic missiles by NATO missile
shield in Europe at an international conference on missile defense
in Moscow in May.
The new military chief will face the task of optimizing the number
of staff officers at the General Staff headquarters in Moscow as his
predecessor had been criticized for disproportional and unacceptable
reductions that hampered the work of this key military body.
Another negative legacy left by Makarov is the excessive reduction
to the number of military colleges and a significant outflow of top
scientists from defense-related research projects which are key to
making the Russian military a truly advanced and efficient combat
force.
Finally, Gerasimov is expected to be instrumental in helping the new
defense minister optimize the relationship between the military and
the defense industry by providing a clear vision of what types of
weaponry the Russian army most needs.
Most likely, both Shoigu and Gerasimov will need to find a sensible
balance between the purchase of Russian-made military equipment and
foreign weaponry in order to avoid hurting the interests of Russian
arms makers whose lobbying influence in policy-making circles is
unquestionably strong.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Valery Gerasimov
RIA Novosti
20:27 09/11/2012
Sergei Shoigu: From Russia's Emergencies Chief to Region's Governor
MOSCOW, November 9 (RIA Novosti) - The dismissal of the chief of the
Armed Forces General Staff, General of the Army Nikolai Makarov, may
pave the way for major changes within the ranks of Russia's military
leadership amid financial scandals and conflicts over defense policy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sacked Makarov on Friday, replacing
him with former Central Military District commander Col. Gen. Valery
Gerasimov.
Gerasimov's promotion follows Monday's appointment of Sergei Shoigu as
Defense Minister, replacing Anatoly Serdyukov, who was dismissed amid
an investigation into nearly $100 million in fraudulent transactions
involving real estate owned by Oboronservis, a ministry-controlled
company.
Shoigu proposed Gerasimov, 57, for chief of the General Staff and
Putin approved the appointment on Friday. Gerasimov will also serve
as first deputy defense minister.
President Putin also dismissed Alexander Sukhorukov from the post of
first deputy defense minister on Friday, replacing him with Col. Gen.
Arkady Bakhin, former commander of the Western Military District.
Putin promoted the Commander of Russia's Space Forces, 55-year-old
Oleg Ostapenko, to the post of deputy defense minister, and relieved
several dozen people who had been employed as Serdyukov's advisors
of their duties.
This reshuffle may reflect a move away from dramatic military reform
to a more stable development trajectory for Russia's Armed Forces, in
which the strict implementation of set goals and efficient allocation
of defense spending are prioritized.
Gerasimov, a veteran of the second Chechen war who began his military
career as a platoon commander in 1977, has proven himself to be an
efficient military commander capable of maintaining a tight grip on
his subordinates.
Gerasimov is also known for his profound knowledge of missile defense
issues, as he was chosen to present a report on potential scenarios
for the interception of Russian ballistic missiles by NATO missile
shield in Europe at an international conference on missile defense
in Moscow in May.
The new military chief will face the task of optimizing the number
of staff officers at the General Staff headquarters in Moscow as his
predecessor had been criticized for disproportional and unacceptable
reductions that hampered the work of this key military body.
Another negative legacy left by Makarov is the excessive reduction
to the number of military colleges and a significant outflow of top
scientists from defense-related research projects which are key to
making the Russian military a truly advanced and efficient combat
force.
Finally, Gerasimov is expected to be instrumental in helping the new
defense minister optimize the relationship between the military and
the defense industry by providing a clear vision of what types of
weaponry the Russian army most needs.
Most likely, both Shoigu and Gerasimov will need to find a sensible
balance between the purchase of Russian-made military equipment and
foreign weaponry in order to avoid hurting the interests of Russian
arms makers whose lobbying influence in policy-making circles is
unquestionably strong.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress