Reports of a shortlist for Pogosyan's replacement smack of much political recycling (403 words)

Published: 12/3/2001

Discussion and speculation continue over the future of Pogosyan with the creation of Aviation Holding Company Sukhoi and its management, fuelled by the failure of the administration to announce the head of the new entity. Pogoysan will have the job until at least April 2002 when the entities officially merge, but after that it appears that a number of candidates are being considered, including two ex-General Directors of the now defunct state defence equipment export agency, Rosvooruzhenie, Alexander Kotelkin and Alexey Ogarev, and the recently departed Minister of Industry, Science, and Technologies and Chairman of Yakovlev, Alexander Dondukov. If this indeed the shortlist, it is a puzzling one. For instance, Dondukov, was quietly fired from his ministerial post, having been largely sidelined in the industry's restructuring. This happened despite his appointment having been viewed by some commentators as being that of the conservative “insider” to win over acceptance of the restructuring of the industry by its more conservative figures: something that he arguably failed to do. It seems to make little sense for the authorities to appoint a man who has already failed to distinguish himself in one restructuring to take charge of another. Ogarev's name also adds to the feeling that the candidates have been culled from aerospace figures that need roles. Ogarev was reported to be the government's choice to replace Anatoly Kiselev at Khrunichev earlier this year, after losing his position at the end of 2000 as General Director of Rosvooruzhenie in the restructuring of the defence export agencies. The appointment, however, was strongly opposed by Kiselev, who was ultimately replaced by his deputy Alexander Medvedev. It is also interesting that the Putin administration - if the rumours are true - feels the need to find a place for someone who is seen as a Yeltsin man. This connection yielded him the Rosvooruzhenie position in late 1999, when he displaced the capable, but politically unacceptable Gregory Rapota. Interestingly, Rapota replaced the other rumoured candidate, Kotelkin, General Director of Rosvooruzhenie from 1994-1997. If nothing else, the initial list of potential candidates and their very political backgrounds emphasises just how much the Sukhoi job is going to be in the political spotlight, as well as the government's desire to have the “right” individual, even if they have been eased out elsewhere.

Article ID: 2939