Russia's New Defense Chief: Technocrat or Fanatic?
The Dossier Centre, an investigative journalism group, has published an exposé on the new Russian Defense Minister, Andrei Belousov.
Journalists obtained access to Belousov's email archive and spoke with sources close to him. The archive contains both work emails and personal correspondence. Interestingly, it also includes Belousov's personal code of conduct, which outlines his prayers, life principles, and the biblical ten commandments.
Everyone knew Andrei Belousov was religious, but his emails and personal documents reveal an almost fanatical devotion. He seems to possess a rather militant attitude. How does this square with his appointment as Defense Minister? The answer is quite simple: “Vladimir Putin, according to our sources, doesn't view the Defense Minister as the one in charge of battlefield commands. That's the General Staff's responsibility," said Ilya Rojdestvenski, a journalist with the Dossier Centre.
Investigative journalists point out that the new Russian Defense Minister is a technocrat. The fact that Belousov, unlike his predecessor Shoigu, lacks public popularity suits Vladimir Putin just fine, as he poses no threat of competition.
"Andrei Belousov's responsibilities will be quite different. He's tasked with overseeing the smooth operation of the ministry, which controls a significant portion of Russia's federal budget. We're talking trillions of rubles here. So, Belousov's focus isn't on leading troops or battlefield commands; it's about managing the finances and ensuring the allocated funds are directed appropriately," the journalist said.
The Dossier Centre's investigative team also reveals Belousov to be a typical Russian official with a penchant for luxury. Identifying his assets was no easy feat. Belousov carefully conceals his wealth, unlike the colonels and generals within the power structures. According to the Dossier investigative group, Belousov's primary function is to provide unwavering support for Putin's policies and demonstrate absolute loyalty to the Russian president.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
