Russkiy reporter published its 2011 list of the 100 “most authoritative” Russian people — ten each in society, business, bureaucracy, academe, education, medicine, law, military, culture, and sports.
Avtoritetnyy, of course, isn’t just a cognate; it can mean influential, competent, trusted, reputable, respected, expert, etc.
You can read about last year’s picks in the military field here. This year’s military list includes:
- Deputy Defense Minister Anatoliy Antonov, for knowing how to talk to foreigners.
- Western MD Commander, General-Colonel Arkadiy Bakhin, for housing officers.
- Sukhoy test pilot Sergey Bogdan, for testing the fifth generation fighter.
- General Staff Chief, Army General Nikolay Makarov, for disbanding the “Arbat Military District.”
- State Secretary, Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov, for reforming military education.
- President, General Director of RSK MiG, Chairman of the Board of Sukhoy, Mikhail Pogosyan, for developing the latest Russian weaponry.
- Head of the Veteran-Military Chiefs Club, Marshal of the Soviet Union Sergey Sokolov, for 100 years in the ranks.
- General Director, “Tactical Missile Armaments” Corporation, Boris Obnosov, for fast, accurate missiles.
- Air Forces Senior Lieutenant Igor Sulim, for courage.
- President, Academy of Military Sciences, Army General Makhmut Gareyev, for asserting the results of the Second World War.
It’s an interesting and eclectic list. Clearly, many would dispute the names. Some would say Pankov wrecked the military education system; others would say he implemented unavoidable reductions and consolidations. Picking Makarov for breaking up the “Arbat Military District,” and sending more officers out to serve with the troops is also controversial, but he’s done something essential and long overdue.
Sokolov’s honored for his longevity.
Obnosov’s interviewed in the lead article. He talks about attracting and retaining young scientists and engineers in the defense sector, and about the OPK’s attempt to reach an understanding with the Defense Ministry on price formation.
Sulim’s a surprise, and a rather bold choice.
Only Makarov, Pogosyan, and Gareyev repeat from last year’s list.
RR picked Deputy Defense Minister, Army General Dmitriy Bulgakov as its goat of the year for the spate of deadly army arsenal explosions.
The big “loser” Bulgakov’s in the same boat as some of the “winners.”
He found himself in charge of a long-neglected and untenable situation, and he’s tried to fix it. But many people will object and argue about his methods, the results, and consequences.
Russian Defense Policy 