According to Moscow News , an unnamed Kremlin source denies Prime Minister Putin asked for Defense Minister Serdyukov’s resignation in the wake of the storm over his harsh words for the chief of the VDV’s Ryazan Higher Command School on 30 September.
The report of Putin asking for Serdyukov to resign originally appeared in Argumeny nedeli. And it’s being echoed elsewhere.
Titillating, yes, but virtually certainly just a rumor. Even if Putin’s the power behind President Medvedev’s ceremonial throne, the former president probably wouldn’t try to fire a run-of-the-mill minister, much less Serdyukov, without thoroughly coordinating with Medvedev first.
The Defense Ministry, like the other power ministries, is part of Putin’s cabinet, but it also reports directly to the President, unlike ordinary ministries.
Of course, we remember Putin’s the one who put Serdyukov in charge of the Arbat MD in the first place. It’s at least conceivable he could suggest to Serdyukov that maybe it’s time for him to go.
Russian Defense Policy 