Putin Reappoints Prime Minist 05/10 08:41

   

   MOSCOW (AP) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin reappointed Mikhail 
Mishustin as the country's prime minister on Friday, a widely anticipated move 
to keep on a technocrat who has maintained a low political profile.

   Mishustin and other technocrats in the Cabinet have been credited with 
maintaining a relatively stable economic performance despite bruising Western 
sanctions for Russia's role in Ukraine. Most other Cabinet members are expected 
to keep their jobs, though the fate of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu appeared 
uncertain.

   In line with Russian law, Mishustin, 58, who held the job for the past four 
years, submitted his Cabinet's resignation on Tuesday when Putin began his 
fifth presidential term at a glittering Kremlin inauguration.

   Mishustin, the former head of Russia's tax service, steered clear of 
political statements and avoided media interviews during his previous tenure.

   During Friday's meeting with Putin, he assured the president that "there 
will be no breaks in the government's work" and pledged to "ensure continuity 
on all national goals."

   "We will do everything for the development of our economy to justify 
people's trust," Mishustin said.

   Hours after Putin submitted Mishustin's candidacy to the lower house, the 
State Duma, lawmakers vetted it at a quickly organized session.

   Under the constitutional changes approved in 2020, the lower house approves 
the candidacy of the prime minister, who then submits Cabinet members for 
approval. The changes were ostensibly meant to grant parliament broader power, 
but the procedure is widely seen as pro forma given the Kremlin's overwhelming 
control over the body.

   Most Cabinet members are expected to keep their jobs, but it was not clear 
if Shoigu, the defense minister, would be among them after last month's arrest 
of his top associate, Timur Ivanov.

   Ivanov, who served as deputy defense minister in charge of massive military 
construction projects, was arrested on bribery charges and was ordered to stay 
in custody pending official investigation.

   The arrest of Ivanov was widely interpreted as an attack on Shoigu and a 
possible precursor of his dismissal despite his close personal ties with Putin.

   Shoigu was broadly criticized for Russian military's setbacks in the early 
stage of the fighting in Ukraine. He faced scathing attacks from mercenary 
chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who marched on Moscow nearly a year ago to demand the 
ouster of Shoigu and the chief of the General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov.

   After Prigozhin's death in a suspicious plane crash two months after the 
rebellion -- widely seen as the Kremlin's revenge -- Shoigu appeared to shore 
up his position. But Ivanov's arrest, interpreted by many as part of Kremlin's 
political infighting, again exposed Shoigu's vulnerability.

    




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