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Putin appoints Alexander Kurenkov as Emergency Situations Minister

The President will personally introduce him to the ministry's board on Wednesday

MOSCOW, May 25. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing Alexander Kurenkov as head of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry, the document published on Wednesday on the official portal of legal information reported.

"In accordance with Article 83(e) of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, Major-General Alexander Vyacheslavovich Kurenkov [is hereby] appointed as head of the Russian Civil Defence, Emergency Situations and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters Ministry. He is dismissed from his previous post. This decree comes into force from the date of its signing," the document said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kurenkov's candidacy for the post of Emergency Situations Minister was supported by the Federation Council. Speaking at a meeting of the upper house of parliament, he revealed the priorities of his work. In particular, Kurenkov said that the Emergency Situations Ministry will increase the work of rescuers in Donbass and build up the volume of humanitarian aid. He also supported the tightening of responsibility for the occurrence of natural fires and promised to improve the social situation of the ministry’s employees. Kurenkov also drew attention to the fact that the Russian Emergencies Ministry is ready to continue to provide assistance to foreign countries.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putin would personally introduce Kurenkov to the ministry's board on Wednesday. The Kremlin spokesman also noted that the Russian president knows Kurenkov well and believes that his personal and professional qualities will allow him to perform his duties in his new position excellently.

Alexander Kurenkov was born on June 2, 1972, in the Moscow Region. He graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Physical Education and the Moscow Institute of Psychology and Social Sciences. In 1999 he joined the state security services, from 1999 to 2002 he worked in various positions in the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), from 2002 to 2021 he served in the Federal Protection Service (FSO). In 2021-2022 he held the post of assistant and then Deputy Director of the National Guard (Rosgvardia). His military rank was Major-General. In 2015, by presidential decree, Kurenkov was awarded the Order For Merit to the Fatherland of the second degree.

The previous head of the Russian Emergency Ministry Yevgeny Zinichev died on September 8, 2021, during drills in the Arctic city of Norilsk, while rescuing film director Alexander Melnik. First Deputy Minister Alexander Chupriyan was then appointed the acting head of the ministry.

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