Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said government ministers have until July 1 to give up their seats on boards of some of the country’s biggest state firms, the Kremlin said on Saturday.
The Kremlin insists the move is part of efforts to “improve Russia’s investment climate.” But experts suggest Medvedev is trying to gain ground ahead of the 2012 presidential election by dismissing some of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s closest allies as oil and gas regulators and company directors.
Putin has hinted he may try to elbow Medvedev aside at the polls. In a speech carried by state news channel Rossiya 24 earlier this week, Medvedev said he wanted all ministers to vacate their seats, including