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Putin removes Surkov from presidential aide office

The order is effective on the day of signing

Vladislav Surkov Alexei Druzhinin/TASS

Vladislav Surkov

© Alexei Druzhinin/TASS

MOSCOW, February 18. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed an executive order to release Vladislav Surkov from the position of his aide, the Kremlin’s press service said.

"To relieve Vladislav Surkov from the position of the aide to the Russian president," the order reads.

The order also notes that it is effective on the day of signing.

Surkov was appointed Putin’s aide in September 2013. He headed the Russian Presidential Directorate for Social and Economic Cooperation with the Commonwealth of Independent States Member Countries, the Republic of Abkhazia, and the Republic of South Ossetia. Following the coup d’etat in Ukraine in winter 2014, he was also put in charge of the Ukrainian policy and issues of the Donbass settlement. He took part in preparations for Normandy Four meetings and was engaging in contacts with the US Department of State representatives on the Ukrainian crisis issues.

Last week, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed that Deputy Chief of the Russian Presidential Staff Dmitry Kozak will now be in charge of the Ukrainian affairs in the Kremlin.

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