OREANDA-NEWS. November 09, 2012. Vladimir Putin signed Executive Orders On the Chief of Armed Forces General Staff and First Deputy Defence Minister, On the First Deputy Defence Minister, and On the Deputy Defence Minister.

In his Executive Order, the President appointed Colonel General Valery Gerasimov Chief of Armed Forces General Staff and First Deputy Defence Minister and released him from his post of Central Military District Commander.

In another Order, Mr Putin appointed Arkady Bakhin First Deputy Defence Minister and released him from his post of Western Military District Commander.

The President also signed an Executive Order appointing Colonel General Oleg Ostapenko Deputy Defence Minister and releasing him from his post of Aerospace Defence Troops Commander.