Russia's justice minister and prosecutor general swapped places yesterday in a move aimed at strengthening the Kremlin's control over law-enforcement agencies.
The Federation Council voted 147-1 to approve President Vladimir Putin's nomination of Yuri Chaika as prosecutor general.
The job has been vacant since Vladimir Ustinov, a pugnacious figure close to a hawkish part of Putin's entourage known as the siloviki clan, resigned without explanation on June 2.
Shortly after, the Kremlin announced that Putin had named former prosecutor general Vladimir Ustinov to succeed Chaika as justice minister.
INTEGRITY CAMPAIGN
Chaika, who served as justice minister since 1999, promised lawmakers he would make serious efforts to combat corruption among prosecutors and prevent them from taking sides in business conflicts.
In the Russian system, prosecutors are subject to little public control and enjoy vast powers. Critics say they have been used as a weapon in political and commercial battles.
Chaika also told the upper house of parliament that he saw no need to make any hasty changes to the current structure and powers of the prosecutor general's office, which serves as both a criminal investigation body and a structure that oversees the observance of law.
As justice minister, Chaika had pushed for stripping the prosecutor general's office of investigative functions -- efforts seen by observers as part of struggle for power between Russian law enforcement structures.
PUTIN POWER PLAY
Putin, whose presidency has been marked by strong consolidation of Kremlin power, is due to step down in 2008 as required by the Constitution. He has promised not to seek a third term, but has made clear he plans to remain a big player somewhere on the political scene.
Opinion polls show that any candidate blessed by the highly popular Putin has a nearly unbeatable chance of winning.
The few leaks from his entourage signal that competing Kremlin clans -- including the siloviki group of former security officers and the more reformist "St Petersburg liberals" -- are already engaged in some sort of struggle for the succession.
Ustinov's sudden departure fuelled rumors that he fell victim of a shift in the balance of power. Analysts say that keeping this struggle under control is paramount to Putin's plan to maintain political influence after 2008.
Analysts said Chaika, believed to be loyal to Putin, was picked as a politically "safe" person able to steer clear of intrigue should a storm blow up over the issue of who will become president in 2008.
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