‘Position Doesn't Matter’

Was Shoigu demoted when made head of the Russian Security Council?

Putin removed Sergei Shoigu from the post of Russian Defense Minister, moving the general to the post of Secretary of the Security Council instead of Nikolai Patrushev. The post of Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation was taken by Andrei Belousov, a hereditary economist-statist who did not undergo any military service and never had anything to do with the army.

Director of the Center for Research on National Resilience in Kyiv Oleh Bilokolos, in a comment for the Charter97.org website, pointed out the similarities in the personnel decisions of Putin and Hitler:

— It is obvious that, as the head of the defense department, Shoigu did not fulfill the tasks that were assigned to him. This reminds me of when in Nazi Germany they put Speer in charge of the defense (Albert Speer was special, close to Hitler and the most influential architect in the Third Reich — edit.), hoping that with the help of some of his knowledge and skills will be able to mobilize industry for military needs.

— Is Shoigu’s appointment as head of the Security Council a promotion or a demotion?

— As far as I can tell, in Russia, position does not matter. In today's bureaucratic structure, one can be completely out of office. The level and status of a particular character in the Putin regime is determined by the ability to access the body. Whoever has access to it also has status, and if there is no access, then your position does not matter much.

— How would you comment on the removal of Patrushev from the post of head of the Russian Security Council? Why did he fall into disgrace?

— I don’t think he fell into disgrace. I think it was simply necessary to ensure the transfer of some place, and the choice fell on Patrushev. We will see in the near future where it ultimately emerges and whether it is a disgrace. But again, as I said, the character's position in this hierarchy does not matter.

The only important thing is whether he will still have the opportunity to gain access to the head of the Kremlin. Patrushev may not hold any position at all, be some kind of conditional adviser, but still enjoy influence.

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