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The Russian leader signed a decree relieving Marshal Igor Sergeyev of his duties as Defence Minister and appointed him Presidential Aide. Mr Putin awarded Mr Sergeyev with the Order for Service to the Fatherland, Second Degree, for his outstanding services to the state and substantial contribution to the national defence effort.

Former Security Council Secretary Sergei Ivanov was appointed Defence Minister.

Another presidential decree relieved Vladimir Rushailo of his duties as Interior Minister and appointed him Security Council Secretary. Vyacheslav Soltaganov, former Director of the Federal Tax Police Service, was appointed Deputy Security Council Secretary.

Boris Gryzlov and Vladimir Vasilyev were appointed Interior Minister and Deputy Interior Minister, respectively.

President Putin also reshuffled top Defence Ministry officials. Colonel General Alexei Moskovsky was appointed Deputy Defence Minister and Director of the Armed Forces’ Arms Procurement Department. Colonel General Igor Puzanov was appointed State Secretary and Deputy Defence Minister. Lyubov Kudelina was appointed Deputy Defence Minister for Financial and Economic Issues and Director of the Main Financial and Economic Department. Anatoly Perminov was appointed Commander of the Russian Space Force, and Nikolai Kormiltsev was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army.

The Russian leader also signed decrees filling top positions at the Federal Tax Police Service and the Nuclear Energy Ministry. Mikhail Fradkov and Sergei Veryovkin-Rakhalsky were appointed Director and Deputy Director, respectively, of the Federal Tax Police Service. Yevgeny Adamov was relieved of his duties as Nuclear Energy Minister, and Alexander Rumyantsev was appointed in his place.

President Putin said the goal of the latest security-agency personnel reshuffle was aimed at demilitarising Russian public life. Vladimir Putin noted that civilian professionals had now been appointed to key positions.

President Putin said that the personnel reshuffle was a logical conclusion to the military restructuring, and that the latest appointments were connected with changes in the North Caucasian and Chechen situation.