Putin Replaces Chief of Armed Forces General Staff

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed chief of the armed forces General Staff, Gen. Nikolai Makarov, appointing  Col. Gen. Valery Gerasimov to replace him.

Gerasimov's promotion follows Monday's dismissal of the country's defence minister after the ministry was caught up in a corruption scandal. Anatoly Serdyukov was replaced with a former emergencies minister and loyal ally to Putin, Sergei Shoigu.

Shoigu proposed Gerasimov for chief of the General Staff and Putin approved the appointment on Friday.

Gerasimov had been the commander of forces in the Central Military District, a post he took up in April 2012, RIA Novosti reminds.

Makarov was appointed chief of the General Staff in 2008.