Admiral Vladimir Masorin turned 60, the maximum age for senior commanders, on Aug. 24. As required by law, he submitted his resignation to the president, who is allowed to extend commanders' service on an annual basis until they reach the age of 65. Putin chose not to extend Masorin's service and appointed in his place the commander of the Northern Fleet, Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky, 52, a source in the Defense Ministry told Interfax on Thursday.
On the same day Masorin turned 60, he accepted the Legion of Merit from U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Mullen, who is set to become chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff in October, at a public ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard.
Masorin accepted the honor without first clearing it with Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, in violation of Defense Ministry procedures for accepting foreign decorations. Masorin asked Serdyukov for permission only after he returned to Russia, national media reported.
Masorin was named to the top spot in the Navy in September 2005. There was much speculation in the media at the time that he had been appointed as a caretaker for the post until a younger admiral, such as Vysotsky, could be groomed for the position.
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.