Putin changes his mind: Fradkov to charge of Almaz-Antei and RISS

Russia’s former Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, who held the position of director at the foreign intelligence service SVR until recently, will take charge of the board of directors at Almaz-Antei corporation and will preside over the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies (RISS).

"We made an agreement earlier on your presidency over the board of trustees at (the state railway corporation) RZD but Mr. Chemezov turned to me with a request to ask you if we could place you to Almaz-Antei, considering the fact it’s a defense industry enterprise and your past experience as the Prime Minister and the foreign intelligence service director would be beneficial there," TASS cited Putin as saying.

"The knowledge Mikhail Yefimovich accumulated at his previous posts will be highly instrumental at Almaz-Antei, especially if you recall there’s a lot of confidential R & D then," Chemezov said.

Fradkov said on his part the proposals voiced by Putin and Chemezov were interesting for him.

Putin also told Fradkov he would like him to take director’s position at Russian Institute for Strategic Studies.