Putin dismisses powerful chief of staff

AFP, MOSCOW: Russian Presi­dent Vladimir Putin on Friday unexpectedly dismissed his close ally and powerful chief of staff Sergei Ivanov, in the highest-level change inside the Kremlin in several years.
The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin had “decreed to relieve Ivanov of his duties” and handed him a job as a special representative for conservation, environmental and transportation issues.
Ivanov—who served together with Putin in the Soviet-era KGB spy agency—was replaced by his deputy Anton Vaino.
Russian state-media quickly aired footage of Putin thanking a smiling Ivanov for his work and presenting the move as a mutual decision.
“I remember well our agreement about the fact you had asked not to be in this area of work as the head of the presidential administration for more than four years,” Putin said.

 

Putin dismisses powerful chief of staff

AFP, MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday unexpectedly dismissed his close ally and powerful chief of staff Sergei Ivanov, in the highest-level change inside the Kremlin in several years. The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin had decreed to relieve Ivanov of his duties and handed him a job as a special representative for conservation, environmental and transportation issues. Ivanovwho served together with Putin in the Soviet-era KGB spy agencywas replaced by his deputy Anton Vaino. Russian state-media quickly aired footage of Putin thanking a smiling Ivanov for his work and presenting the move as a mutual decision. I remember well our agreement about the fact you had asked not to be in this area of work as the head of the presidential administration for more than four years, Putin said.