ALBAWABA - Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters that Minister Sergei Shoigu will be replaced by Andrei Belousov, as he "would be the best person to deal with the issues faced by the Russian military nowadays when it comes to their economic needs".
Russian President Vladimir Putin has chosen the former first deputy prime minister to be the country's defense minister. Belousov previously worked for the Russian government in a variety of roles, but only on civilian matters, RT reported.
Commenting on the choice of naming Belousov as the new Defense Minister, Peskov said: "The battlefield is now dominated by those who are more open to innovations and are ready to introduce them in the fastest way possible,".
Belousov was Russia's Economic Development Minister from 2012 to 2013, and he worked as the president's economic adviser from 2013 to 2020 before becoming the first deputy prime minister till May 7.
Earlier, the Russian Federation Council disclosed that Putin had recommended replacing Sergey Shoigu, the current acting military minister, with Belousov.
Senators are expected to consider the president's nominees on May 13 and 14. Shoigu was appointed Secretary of the Russian Security Council by a presidential decree issued Sunday. Peskov commented on the appointment, stating that the former defense minister would serve as deputy head of the defense industry committee.
Shoigu has a strong understanding of the subject because he has previously been "deeply involved" in the work of the Russian defense industry and "is well aware of the production rates" required of each specialized enterprise, Peskov noted.
