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Former Deputy PM Surkov has not discussed any VIP appointments

Earlier some mass media speculated that Surkov would soon take post of Presidential Aide for Innovative Development

Photo ITAR-TASS/Valery Sharifulin

Photo ITAR-TASS/Valery Sharifulin

MOSCOW, August 20 (Itar-Tass) - Russia’s former Deputy Prime Minister, Vladislav Surkov, has not had any discussions with anyone of any likely appointments to senior positions in the presidential staff, political scientist Alexei Chesnakov, a close associate of Surkov, said in his Twitter. Chesnakov earlier held the post of Deputy Chief of the Internal Policies Department at the Kremlin staff.

Chesnakov, who worked side by side with Surkov for a while, quoted a text message he had received from the former Deputy Prime Minister just recently.

“I have not discussed with anyone either the position of the Innovations Aide, or of the Presidential Representative in the North Caucasus, or Far East minister, or head of Rosnano-Skolkovo (and I have no idea of how the latter can be combined).”

Earlier some mass media speculated that Surkov would soon take post of Presidential Aide for Innovative Development. The former Deputy Prime Minster had allegedly accepted the offer, because, as media said, it came from the head of state in person.

Vladislav Surkov was dismissed on May 8 of his own accord. Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov then explained that “the resignation was connected with the theme of implementing presidential decrees.”

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