Putin Launches Russia's "Military Modernization Programme"

Security Council Secretary Sergei Ivanov was named new Defence Minister, and Vladimir Rushailo took his previous post. Boris Gryzlov, a leader of the pro-Kremlin Unity party in parliament, replaced Rushailo as Interior Minister. Mikhail Fradkov was appointed as the new head of the federal tax police. Igor Sergeyev became Putin's adviser on strategic stability. Putin also appointed former Deputy Finance Minister Lyubov Kudelina as deputy Defence Minister, the first woman to get a job of such a level as a Russian military official. The president decided to replace Russia's Nuclear Energy Minister Yevgeny Adamov. Putin described the government changes as a "step towards demilitarising Russia's public life". He also said the move was linked with the changing situation in Chechnya and the Northern Caucasus. All the ministers' cabinet changes are a result of 1,5-year-work on Russia's military reform, Putin emphasized. "It is time to make cadre decisions as a logical conclusion of one of stages of military modernization in the country", the president said.