- Sputnik International
Russia
The latest news and stories from Russia. Stay tuned for updates and breaking news on defense, politics, economy and more.

Who’s In, Who’s Out, Who’s Who of Russia’s New Government

© Sputnik / Екатерина Штукина / Go to the mediabankRussian President Vladimir Putin holds meeting with new government. January 21, 2020.
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds meeting with new government. January 21, 2020. - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The government of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev resigned last week, shortly after President Putin’s address to the Federal Assembly, in which a number of “fundamental changes” to Russia’s constitution were proposed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the structure and composition of the new cabinet of ministers on Tuesday. Who stays, who’s gone, and were there any surprise appointments? Sputnik brings you up to speed.

  • Sergei Lavrov is staying on as foreign minister. First appointed to the post in 2004, Lavrov has been a mainstay of Russia’s foreign policy apparatus for over a decade and a half, and has presided over most of Moscow’s major foreign policy initiatives, from efforts to end the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, to helping to regulate the Iranian nuclear issue and the North Korean crisis, to formulating Russia’s response to Western sanctions pressure.
© Sputnik / ТАСС/POOL / Go to the mediabankRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a press conference on a visit to the US on 10 December, 2019
Who’s In, Who’s Out, Who’s Who of Russia’s New Government - Sputnik International
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a press conference on a visit to the US on 10 December, 2019
  • Sergei Shoigu will remain minister of defence. First appointed to the post by President Putin in late 2012, Shoigu, who previously served as minister of emergency situations, has coordinated the Russian military’s expanded operations, including the beefing up of Russia’s Arctic defences and taking charge of the country’s anti-terrorist operation in Syria. Shoigu’s tenure has seen the modernization of Russia’s military, and the introduction of all-new hypersonic weapons to reinforce Russia’s strategic deterrent amid the continued NATO buildup along Russia’s borders.
© Sputnik / Michael Klimentyev / Go to the mediabankPresident of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Syria Bashar al-Assad (left) and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at the Hmeymim Air Base in Syria
Who’s In, Who’s Out, Who’s Who of Russia’s New Government - Sputnik International
President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Syria Bashar al-Assad (left) and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at the Hmeymim Air Base in Syria
  • On the economic front, Medvedev-era minister of energy Alexander Novak will be keeping his post, as will minister of industry and trade Denis Manturov. Significantly, Anton Siluanov, who has served as Russia’s minister of finance since 2011, will also retain his post in the new government. Described by the foreign press as a 'liberal technocrat', Siluanov has sought to continue the privatization of state industries and resources to raise revenues, and to continue Russia’s cooperation with global financial institutions including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization. Late last year, Siluanov suggested that there was a consensus among the G20 nations on the need to further reduce barriers to global trade.
© AFP 2023 / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEVRussia's Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. File photo
Who’s In, Who’s Out, Who’s Who of Russia’s New Government - Sputnik International
Russia's Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. File photo
  • Members of the Medevedev government who didn’t get posts in Mishustin’s include minister of economic development Maksim Oreshkin, minister of culture Vladimir Medinsky (his post taken up by documentary filmmaker Olga Lyubimova, daughter of theatre critic Boris Lyubimov), education minister Olga Vasilyeva, and minister of labour and social affairs Maksim Topilin. Vitaly Mutko, who served as minister of sport between 2008 and 2016, lost his post as deputy prime minister responsible for housing and urban development. Former minister of health neurologist Veronika Skvortsova was replaced by Mikhail Murashko, who is also a medical doctor.

 

© Sputnik / Дмитрий Астахов / Go to the mediabankRussian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, left, and Russia President Vladimir Putin hold a meeting with members of the new national government at the Government's headquarter, in Moscow, Russia, January 21, 2020.
Who’s In, Who’s Out, Who’s Who of Russia’s New Government - Sputnik International
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, left, and Russia President Vladimir Putin hold a meeting with members of the new national government at the Government's headquarter, in Moscow, Russia, January 21, 2020.

 

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала