Russia's Defense Minister Facing Corruption Charges

Anatoly Serdyukov. © RIA Novosti. Yana Lapikova

Russian Defense Chief In Hot Water -- Washington Post

MOSCOW — Over the past decade, Anatoly Serdyukov has earned a reputation as a faithful and thorough executor of whatever orders President Vladimir Putin gives him.

He was head of Russia’s tax office in 2003 when Putin went after the oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky on tax evasion charges, and he provided crucial support to the prosecution that put Khodorkovsky in prison. More recently, as defense minister, Serdyukov has been ruthlessly reshaping and reducing the officer corps, fulfilling Putin’s directive to create a modern army.

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My Comment: Corruption is nothing new in Russia .... and it is rarely mentioned in public if top officials are involved .... which is why this story caught my attention. He is also very tight with President Putin, so when I first read this story I said to myself that he must have pissed-off someone very very important. Yup .... he did .... he pissed-off his father-in-law who is head of Gazpron (which is one of the essential pillars of Putin's power), and who is Putin's closest ally.

Morale of the story .... you may be on top, but there is always someone higher up. Anatoly Serdyukov may have been Russia's defense minister since 2007 .... but he is probably going to be out of a job very soon .... or .... knowing Russia as I do .... be promoted. My prediction .... he has become a libility, and he will be gone within a week.