Putin in Cabinet shakeup moves to replace defense minister as he starts his 5th term in office

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin began a Cabinet shakeup, proposing the replacement of Sergei Shoigu as defense minister as he begins his fifth term in office. In line with Russian law, the entire Russian Cabinet resigned on Tuesday following Putin’s glittering inauguration in the Kremlin, and most members have been widely expected to keep their jobs. Putin signed a decree on Sunday appointing Shoigu as secretary of Russia’s national security council, the Kremlin said. The appointment was announced shortly after Putin proposed Andrei Belousov to become the country’s defense minister in place of Shoigu. Shoigu’s deputy was arrested last month on bribery charges and was ordered to remain in custody pending an official investigation.