Grachev had given the troop review as a reason for his inability to appear before the State Duma next week to discuss charges that the army played a role in the murder of Dmitry Kholodov, a reporter for the popular newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets, ITN said. Kholodov was killed by a briefcase bomb last week as he was investigating corruption in the Western Group of Armies.
ITN reported that the defense minister was taking the holiday because he needed time to rest, but added that later reports said the vacation would include troop reviews in the area.
Kholodov's murder sparked a wave of protests from journalists and calls for the defense minister's resignation.
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