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| Putin Dismisses Russian Defense Minister | Putin Dismisses Russian Defense Minister |
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| MOSCOW – President Vladimir V. Putin fired Russia’s defense minister on Tuesday after the police raided the offices and an apartment of a real estate company involved in the privatization of valuable ministry land near Moscow. | MOSCOW – President Vladimir V. Putin fired Russia’s defense minister on Tuesday after the police raided the offices and an apartment of a real estate company involved in the privatization of valuable ministry land near Moscow. |
| The firing of Anatoly E. Serdyukov, a longtime Putin ally, marked one of the highest-level corruption cases in recent memory in Russia. It was also a departure for Mr. Putin, a leader who has been reluctant to dismiss members of his inner circle. | The firing of Anatoly E. Serdyukov, a longtime Putin ally, marked one of the highest-level corruption cases in recent memory in Russia. It was also a departure for Mr. Putin, a leader who has been reluctant to dismiss members of his inner circle. |
| Mr. Putin announced the decision to fire Mr. Serdyukov in a meeting with another longtime political ally, Sergei K. Shoigu, the former minister of emergency situations, whom he appointed the new defense minister. | Mr. Putin announced the decision to fire Mr. Serdyukov in a meeting with another longtime political ally, Sergei K. Shoigu, the former minister of emergency situations, whom he appointed the new defense minister. |
| In the past, officials within the tight coterie of ministers and state company managers who have been close to Mr. Putin for years have typically circulated between jobs rather than been summarily fired. | In the past, officials within the tight coterie of ministers and state company managers who have been close to Mr. Putin for years have typically circulated between jobs rather than been summarily fired. |
| Dmitri S. Peskov, Mr. Putin’s spokesman, said the firing was necessary to allow the police to continue their investigation of wrongdoing within the ministry, which would not be possible if Mr. Serdyukov remained. Mr. Putin also praised the minister’s past work. | Dmitri S. Peskov, Mr. Putin’s spokesman, said the firing was necessary to allow the police to continue their investigation of wrongdoing within the ministry, which would not be possible if Mr. Serdyukov remained. Mr. Putin also praised the minister’s past work. |
| Many ministers in the Russian government have secondary roles in business and even extensive property and wealth that is typically tolerated unless an official falls from favor for another reason, analysts of Russian politics say. | Many ministers in the Russian government have secondary roles in business and even extensive property and wealth that is typically tolerated unless an official falls from favor for another reason, analysts of Russian politics say. |
| “In Russia, where what matters first and foremost are informal deals and relations. We should be looking for some kind of intrigue behind this all, some kind of a clash of very important interests,” Masha Lipman, a researcher at the Carnegie Moscow Center, said in an interview. | |
| Ms. Lipman said that in Russia’s political environment corruption cases can be opened as a way of settling scores. “And in an environment as corrupt as Russia, almost anyone can fall victim,” she said. | Ms. Lipman said that in Russia’s political environment corruption cases can be opened as a way of settling scores. “And in an environment as corrupt as Russia, almost anyone can fall victim,” she said. |
| Why Mr. Serdyukov’s case emerged into public view is unclear. Russian media have promulgated theories of both a clash of a personal nature in the elite and a conflict with the generals over military policy. | Why Mr. Serdyukov’s case emerged into public view is unclear. Russian media have promulgated theories of both a clash of a personal nature in the elite and a conflict with the generals over military policy. |
| Mr. Serdyukov had alienated the uniformed military during a reform that sought to thin the top-heavy officer ranks in Russia, a legacy of Soviet military hierarchy. He adopted a system of noncommissioned officers, as in the United States Army. Generals were also fired. | Mr. Serdyukov had alienated the uniformed military during a reform that sought to thin the top-heavy officer ranks in Russia, a legacy of Soviet military hierarchy. He adopted a system of noncommissioned officers, as in the United States Army. Generals were also fired. |
| Through these efforts, Mr. Serdyukov won no friends. He also once referred to the officer ranks as “little green men.” | Through these efforts, Mr. Serdyukov won no friends. He also once referred to the officer ranks as “little green men.” |
| Russia’s defense industry was a crucial base of support for Mr. Putin in the presidential election he won in March. As part of the campaign, Mr. Putin pledged major increases in spending for the defense sector, promises that have been cast into uncertainty during budget negotiations. | Russia’s defense industry was a crucial base of support for Mr. Putin in the presidential election he won in March. As part of the campaign, Mr. Putin pledged major increases in spending for the defense sector, promises that have been cast into uncertainty during budget negotiations. |
| Mr. Shoigu, the new minister, holds the rank of general. “He is a figure that won’t cause allergies in the military,” Viktor Litovkin, the chief editor of the Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, told the Ekho Moskvy radio station. | Mr. Shoigu, the new minister, holds the rank of general. “He is a figure that won’t cause allergies in the military,” Viktor Litovkin, the chief editor of the Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, told the Ekho Moskvy radio station. |
| The firing of Mr. Serdyukov, who had overseen a nuclear arsenal and significant conventional forces, also raised the prospect of disagreements of a personal nature within the ruling elite affecting policy. It is a potentially destabilizing element in a system tolerant of nepotism. | The firing of Mr. Serdyukov, who had overseen a nuclear arsenal and significant conventional forces, also raised the prospect of disagreements of a personal nature within the ruling elite affecting policy. It is a potentially destabilizing element in a system tolerant of nepotism. |
| Mr. Serdyukov, a former furniture store manager from St. Petersburg, was married to Yulia V. Pokhlebenina, the daughter of a close associate of Mr. Putin, Viktor A. Zubkov. Mr. Zubkov is chairman of Gazprom, the natural gas company, a post in Russia with power at least rivaling that of minister of defense. | Mr. Serdyukov, a former furniture store manager from St. Petersburg, was married to Yulia V. Pokhlebenina, the daughter of a close associate of Mr. Putin, Viktor A. Zubkov. Mr. Zubkov is chairman of Gazprom, the natural gas company, a post in Russia with power at least rivaling that of minister of defense. |
| But the couple had recently become estranged. The police raids late last month on the real estate company, Oboronservice, had telegraphed Mr. Serdyukov’s dismissal by its high profile nature. | But the couple had recently become estranged. The police raids late last month on the real estate company, Oboronservice, had telegraphed Mr. Serdyukov’s dismissal by its high profile nature. |
| That raid coincided with a cabinet meeting, humiliating Mr. Serdyukov, who was compelled to miss the meeting. | That raid coincided with a cabinet meeting, humiliating Mr. Serdyukov, who was compelled to miss the meeting. |
| In one predawn raid related to the real estate case, the police searched the home of a female official affiliated with Oboronservice. They found Mr. Serdyukov at that location, the newspaper Izvestia reported. | In one predawn raid related to the real estate case, the police searched the home of a female official affiliated with Oboronservice. They found Mr. Serdyukov at that location, the newspaper Izvestia reported. |
Andrew Roth contributed reporting. | Andrew Roth contributed reporting. |