Russian prime minister proposes 5 appointments in Cabinet reshuffle

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin submitted nominations for five Cabinet posts to the State Duma, the government press service said Monday.

The Cabinet reshuffle follows September parliamentary elections that ushered in a new convocation of the lower chamber, the State Duma.

“Following a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, a number of decisions were made regarding changes to the composition of the Cabinet of Ministers. In accordance with the Russian Constitution, Mishustin submitted to the State Duma the nominations agreed upon with the head of state,” the government said in a statement.

The proposed appointments include Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin as deputy prime minister; Primorye Territory Governor Oleg Kozhemyako as deputy prime minister and presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District; and First Deputy Finance Minister Irina Okladnikova as deputy prime minister and chief of the government staff.

Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has been nominated to serve as both deputy prime minister and finance minister, while Dmitry Yadrov, head of the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya), has been proposed as transport minister.

Under the Russian Constitution, the State Duma must approve the nominations.