Igor Barinov to head Russia's new Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs
MOSCOW. April 2 (Interfax) - Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has announced that he signed a resolution appointing Igor Barinov as director of the recently established Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs.
"On Tuesday the president signed a decree establishing the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs. And today I signed a resolution appointing Igor Vyacheslavovich Barinov as head of this agency," Medvedev told a Russian government meeting on Thursday.
"Hopefully, all members of the government will help develop this new structure, provide it with human resources and tackle other key tasks," he said, wishing Barinov every success in his new job.
This agency, which is part of the country's government, will coordinate ethnic policy issues, the prime minister said.
Until most recently, Barinov, a member of the United Russia party, held the post of deputy chairman of the State Duma's Defense Committee.
The Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs was set up by President Vladimir Putin on March 31.