Putin fires defense minister in wake of scandal
By JIM HEINTZBy JIM HEINTZ, Associated Press?
?FILE - In this Wednesday, May 9, 2012 file photo, Russia's Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, left, Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, bottom right, watch the Victory Day Parade, in Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin has fired the country's defense minister two weeks after a criminal probe was opened into alleged fraud in the sell-off of military assets. Putin made the announcement of Anatoly Serdyukov's dismissal on Tuesday Nov. 6, 2012 in a meeting with Moscow regional governor Sergei Shoigu, whom he appointed as the new minister. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
FILE - In this Wednesday, May 9, 2012 file photo, Russia's Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, left, Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, bottom right, watch the Victory Day Parade, in Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin has fired the country's defense minister two weeks after a criminal probe was opened into alleged fraud in the sell-off of military assets. Putin made the announcement of Anatoly Serdyukov's dismissal on Tuesday Nov. 6, 2012 in a meeting with Moscow regional governor Sergei Shoigu, whom he appointed as the new minister. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
FILE - This Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007 file photo shows Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov in Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin has fired the country's defense minister two weeks after a criminal probe was opened into alleged fraud in the sell-off of military assets. Putin made the announcement of Anatoly Serdyukov's dismissal on Tuesday Nov. 6, 2012 in a meeting with Moscow regional governor Sergei Shoigu, whom he appointed as the new minister. (AP Photo/Mikhail Klimentyev, Presidential Press Service, File)
FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2006 file photo, the then Russia's Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu holds a German Shepherd puppy as he gives him to the Northwestern Regional Center of Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry moving to new headquarters in St. Petersburg, Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has fired the country's defense minister two weeks after a criminal probe was opened into alleged fraud in the sell-off of military assets. Putin made the announcement of Anatoly Serdyukov's dismissal on Tuesday Nov. 6, 2012 in a meeting with Moscow regional governor Sergei Shoigu, whom he appointed as the new minister. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky, file)
FILE - In this Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 file photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, flanked by Moscow region Governor Sergei Shoigu, meets with leaders of the Night Hockey League, in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin has fired the country's defense minister two weeks after a criminal probe was opened into alleged fraud in the sell-off of military assets. Putin made the announcement of Anatoly Serdyukov's dismissal on Tuesday Nov. 6, 2012 in a meeting with Moscow regional governor Sergei Shoigu, whom he appointed as the new minister. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service, file)
FILE - This Tuesday, June 26, 2012 file photo shows Moscow region governor Sergei Shoigu, right, and Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov arriving at the village of Petrovskopye, Moscow region for a meeting on the transferal of some of the military assets into civilian hands. Russian President Vladimir Putin has fired the country's defense minister two weeks after a criminal probe was opened into alleged fraud in the sell-off of military assets. Putin made the announcement of Anatoly Serdyukov's dismissal on Tuesday Nov. 6, 2012 in a meeting with Moscow regional governor Sergei Shoigu, whom he appointed as the new minister. (AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Yekaterina Shtukina, Government Press service)
MOSCOW (AP) ? Russian President Vladimir Putin fired the country's defense minister on Tuesday, two weeks after a criminal probe was opened into alleged fraud in the sell-off of military assets.
Putin made the announcement of Anatoly Serdyukov's dismissal in a meeting with Moscow regional governor Sergei Shoigu, whom he appointed as the new minister.
Putin's comments appeared to connect the decision to a probe announced by the country's top investigative agency last month into the sale of assets, including real estate, at prices far below market value.
The Investigative Committee says the state suffered damages of 3 billion rubles ($95 million).
Putin did not give specifics in his televised remarks, but said he made the decision "in order to create terms for the objective investigation of all questions" involving the ministry.
Russia's military establishment has been haunted by corruption accusations for years and several top military officials have been convicted of embezzlement.
The case announced in October involves Oboronservice, a state-controlled company whose activities include servicing military aircraft and arms and constructing military facilities.
Investigators have searched Oboronservice's offices and the apartment of a senior company official who formerly headed the Defense Ministry's property department.
Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin told the Interfax news agency on Tuesday that Serdyukov would be questioned in the probe "if there is a basis" for doing so.
Serdyukov was a furniture store executive and head of the Russian tax service before being appointed defense minister in 2007. He became unpopular among the top brass for reforms to downsize the bloated Russian military; under Serdyukov, as many as 200,000 officers lost their jobs and many units were disbanded.
Speculation about his dismissal had floated around for years, but he had received Putin's staunch backing.
It was not immediately clear if his dismissal would change the reform course.
But Shoigu is a former general and head of the Emergencies Ministry, a background that appeared likely to win him initial respect in the military.
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