Akimov replaces Belousov on presidential modernization council
MOSCOW. July 29 (Interfax) - First Deputy Chief of the Russian Government Staff Maxim Akimov has replaced Andrei Belousov on the presidential council for economic modernization and innovation, a presidential decree dated July 27 and published in the database of legal documents says.
Akimov had previously been considered as a candidate to replace Belousov as economic development minister.
The rotation on the council largely reflects staff changes that have been under way in recent months. Elvira Nabiullina was removed from the council after leaving her post as presidential aide to become chairman of the Central Bank. Vladimir Surkov, who recently resigned as deputy prime minister and chief of staff, was also removed from the council. New Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev joined the council, while his predecessor, Belousov, also stayed on in his new capacity as presidential aide, replacing Nabiullina as deputy chairman of the presidium. The second position of deputy presidium chairman, previously occupied by Surkov, went to Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich.
Surkov's spot on the council went not to new Chief of Government Staff Sergei Prikhodko, as occurs on the majority of government commissions, but to his first deputy Akimov. Akimov also became secretary of the council's presidium. This function previously belonged to the economic development minister.
Akimov took a job at the government last year, prior to which he spent 16 years doing various jobs in the Kaluga region. He headed the regional securities market commission, was deputy director of the regional government's economy and industry department, was first deputy chairman of the municipal property management committee, served as economic development minister of the region, was mayor of Kaluga and was the region's deputy governor.
Ministers Mikhail Abyzov, Dmitry Livanov and Ulyukayev have also been included in the council's presidium, which is chaired by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.