President Dmitry Medvedev appointed Nadezhda Sinikova, a former tax official, as the new head of the Federal Arms Procurement Agency on Thursday, replacing Viktor Cherkesov, who was fired for unspecified reasons Sunday, Interfax reported.
Medvedev said Sinikova's main tasks will be procuring quality equipment and saving state money. He added that the agency, established in 2007, has failed to produce any positive results so far.
Sinikova, born in 1955, has worked in the Federal Tax Service since 1990 and was deputy head of the service before being appointed last month as an adviser to Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, himself a former tax chief.
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.