Russia Selects New Cabinet

Russia has appointed a new cabinet, the Kremlin reported late on January 21, following the resignation of the entire government last week.

The new cabinet is led by Mikhail Mishustin, who was announced as the successor to long-serving prime minister Dmitry Medvedev on January 16.

Many of the key appointments affecting Russian energy policy remain the same. Alexander Novak, Russia’s energy minister since 2012, retained his post in the new government, as did natural resources minister Dmitry Kobylkin. Finance minister Anton Siluanov will stay on, along with foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, who has held his position since 2004.

There were also some notable changes, however. Economy minister Maxim Oreshkin was replaced by Maxim Reshetnikov, while Dmitry Kozak, deputy prime minister responsible for energy, was not mentioned in the Kremlin’s announcement.