Russia’s powerful Prosecutor General Yury Chaika has left his post after being replaced by President Vladimir Putin, BBC News in Russian reported Monday, citing the Kremlin.
According to officials, Chaika, 68, will leave the post he has occupied since 2006 for another unnamed job.
Putin proposed that the Federation Council (upper chamber of parliament) appoints Igor Krasnov, deputy head of the Investigative Committee, as the new prosecutor general. The reshuffle takes place days after lawmakers in the State Duma approved little-known tax chief Mikhail Mishustin as the new prime minister of Russia.
44-year-old Krasnov was previously head of the investigation team that investigated the 2015 murder of Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov.
The Investigative Committee has repeatedly clashed with the Prosecutor-General’s Office.
Putin on Monday submitted Krasnov’s candidacy for consideration by the upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, the Kremlin said. His candidacy is expected to be approved by lawmakers. Chaika also served as a justice minister between 1999 and 2006.
In 2015, the anti-corruption foundation of leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny accused Chaika’s two sons of illegally amassing large fortunes with the help of officials under their father’s command. Chaika dismissed the accusations.
Last week Putin proposed re-drafting the 1993 constitution, unleashing political upheaval in Russia and triggering the resignation of the government of his loyal lieutenant Dmitry Medvedev.
Medvedev has been replaced by former tax chief Mikhail Mishustin who is expected to propose a new government make-up this week.
