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Putin Replaces Army Chief of Staff

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) speaks with newly appointed armed forces Chief-of-Staff Valery Gerasimov (R) and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during their meeting in Moscow's Kremlin, November 9, 2012.

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VOA News

November 09, 2012

Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced his army chief of staff, just days after replacing the defense minister.

Putin announced Friday that General Valery Gerasimov will take over the position from Army chief of staff Nikolai Makarov. Gerasimov was a commander in the second war with Chechnya.

On Tuesday, Putin dismissed Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and replaced him with former emergency minister and Moscow regional governor Sergei Shoigu, a staunch Putin ally.

Serdyukov is implicated in an alleged corruption scandal currently under investigation. In recent weeks, Russia's Investigative Committee has opened a probe into the alleged sales of military assets by a state-owned company to commercial firms at a substantial loss.

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