Kremlin: Resignation of deputy PM not linked with corruption allegations

Resignation of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vladislav Surkov has nothing to do with the Investigative Committee's (IC) allegations of his involvement in corruption, Kremlin said Wednesday. "Surkov's departure is his personal volition," the Interfax news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying. Peskov added the resignation had nothing to do with the spat erupted between Surkov and IC's spokesman Vladimir Markin the day before. Markin published an article on Tuesday in the Izvestia daily, accusing Surkov of attempting to hide mismanagement and funds embezzlement in the Skolkovo, a project often dubbed as the Russian Silicon Valley. In April, IC searched the Skolkovo offices and started a criminal inquiry against one of its top managers under embezzlement allegations. One member of the State Duma, lower house of the Parliament, has been under the IC's suspicion as well, Interfax said. On May 1, Surkov intervened in Skolkovo's favor, calling it one of the most transparent projects in Russia, and lamented that IC had acted "too eagerly" in the case. Surkov, 48, has worked as deputy prime minister since May 21, 2012. Prior to that, he had been the first deputy chief of staff of Kremlin. He was also stripped off the post as head of the government secretariat, according to a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin.