Prime Minister Vladimir Putin may name Sollers owner Vadim Shvetsov industry and trade minister, replacing his father-in-law Viktor Khristenko, Kommersant reported Monday.
Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Dmitry Manturov is also being considered to replace Khristenko, who will move to the Eurasian Economic Commission, the newspaper said. Khristenko will resign his post on Feb. 1, 2012, Interfax reported Monday.
Shvetsov is the main shareholder and chief executive of Sollers, which makes Explorer sport-utility vehicles with Ford. Zoya Kaika, a spokeswoman for Sollers, denied the Kommersant report, saying Shvetsov has no intention of leaving the company.
(Bloomberg, MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
