Putin reshuffles top military circle

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a reshuffle in the country's top military circle following the dismissal of defense minister Anatoly Serdyukov, the Kremlin said Friday. Putin relieved the chief of the armed forces General Staff Nikolai Makarov and the first deputy defense minister Alexander Sukhorukov of their duties, the Kremlin press service reported. He appointed Commander of the Central Military District Valery Gerasimov as the new Chief of General Staff and Commander of the Western Military District Arkaly Bakhin as the first deputy defense minister. Gerasimov, 57, also assumed a post of first deputy defense minister. "One of our priority tasks is to rearm army and fleet," Putin told the new Chief of General Staff during a meeting along with the new defense head Sergei Shoigu. "Science and technology in this sector develop fast, and new means of warfare are emerging all the time. Of course we must orient ourselves toward prospective means, but at the same time a degree of stability is also essential," Putin said. Meanwhile, Putin promoted Commander of the Air Space Forces, 55-year-old Oleg Ostapenko to the position of deputy defense minister and relieved several dozens of Serdyukov's advisors off their duties. Serdyukov was fired Wednesday amidst a corruption scandal in a company affiliated with the ministry. The Governor of the Moscow region Shoigu was appointed as the new defense head. Prior to becoming a governor in May, Shoigu worked as a minister of emergency situations. Local media reported the 50-year-old Serdyukov was accused of state funds embezzlement and nepotism. In order to create objective conditions for investigation, Putin made the decision to sack Serdyukov, officials said. Following the dismissal, the independent Investigative Committee said Serdyukov would be questioned over the embezzlement allegations. Investigators were probing the Oboronservice company as part of a criminal inquiry on public assets fraud and possible misappropriation, said the committee.