At a meeting on economic issues President Vladimir Putin declared that he had signed a decree appointing Sergei Ivanov to the position of First Deputy Prime Minister and relieving him from his duties as Defence Minister. The head of state also emphasised that the change involves expanding Sergei Ivanov’s spheres of responsibility, since he will incur additional coordination tasks in the civil sector of the economy as well as in the military and industrial complex.
Former head of the Federal Tax Service Anatolii Serdiukov has been appointed to the position of Defence Minister.
Government Chief of Staff Sergei Naryshkin has been appointed to the position of Vice Premier of Foreign Economic Relations.