MOSCOW, November 15 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian government fired Deputy Defense Ministers Dmitry Chushkin, Alexander Sukhorov and Tatyana Shevtsova on Thursday, the Kremlin announced, in a wave of sackings following last week’s removal of Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.
Moscow Region Deputy Prime Minister Ruslan Tsalikov has been appointed Deputy Defense Minister, the Kremlin said.
Tsalikov previously served in the Moscow regional government under Sergei Shoigu, who replaced Anatoly Serdyukov as Defense Minister last week.
Tsalikov will replace Shevtsova, taking on responsibility for financial issues within the ministry, a RIA Novosti defense source said.
Yury Borisov, First Deputy of the Government’s Military-Industrial Commission, replaces General Alexander Sukhorukov as Deputy Defense Minister, the Kremlin said.
Borisov’s appointment had already been announced by the press office of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who heads the Military-Industrial Commission. Borisov will take on responsbility for armaments issues, Rogozin’s press office said.
Serdyukov was fired last week following a financial scandal at the Defense Ministry involving the Oboronservis defense property management company. An investigation is continuing into embezzlement at the company and several top managers have been arrested following searches at the company’s offices.