Russian News Online: Railroad found a new chief

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Railroad found a new chief – BBC

President of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin government found a replacement. The new head of state monopolies will be the first deputy minister of transport Oleg Belozerov, last for five years headed Rosavtodor.

The head of the Russian Railways will be the first deputy minister of transport Oleg Belozerov. On the appointment of the Prime Minister announced Dmitry Medvedev during a meeting with Belozyorov Thursday in Gorki. In this position, he will replace current president Belozerov Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin, who two days ago announced his retirement from the company.

«I have decided to appoint you as the head of the Joint Stock Company” Russian Railways “with the simultaneous release from the post of First Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation “, – said Medvedev.

The choice Russian Prime Minister explained that Belozerov in recent years was in charge of areas such as the development of roads and railways.

“This area you know very well. You know all the difficulties, the situation with the budget, with the investment, “- said Medvedev. To work Belozerova will need to start on Friday. “Tomorrow all the methods of transfer of responsibilities will be fulfilled. I think that the Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, as chairman of the board of directors of Russian Railways, you will present, “- said Medvedev, while praising the work of the former head of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin.

In response Belozerov thanked Medvedev for the trust and added that the railways in general, reflect the state of our country.

The main objective of the new head Railways sees improving the efficiency of the company’s social-oriented directions and freight.

The fact that the current president of the Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin intends to leave his post, was August 17 is known. This decision is connected with the decision Yakunin, a candidate for the post of the senator from the Kaliningrad region. Rumors about a possible withdrawal of the Russian Railways Yakunin went for a few months. In early June, the president of the company was indirectly confirmed this possibility. In an interview to “Interfax” Yakunin said that can not catch the start of high-speed railway (HSR) Moscow – Kazan as the president of Russian Railways.

Yakunin, considered one of the inner circle of representatives of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Because of this, in March last year, the US authorities have included in the list of individuals Yakunin, subject to visa and economic sanctions. Later, against the president Railways imposed economic sanctions and Australia.

Oleg Belozerov 45 years. A graduate of St. Petersburg University of Economics and Finance “economist planning industry,” came the civil service of the business. From 1998 to 2000 he worked at “Lenenergo” and “goods road company №21». In the early 2000s, about a year, he was chief of financial and economic department in the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President in the Northwest Federal District, but in 2001 returned to the place of business: to 2002 worked as deputy head of the management of corporate assets of OAO “LOMO”, with 2002 to 2004 was CEO of “fuel of the Russian company.”

In the summer of 2004, he was appointed as deputy head, and in the autumn led the Federal Road Agency ( Rosavtodor). In 2009, when the Ministry of Transport headed by Igor Levitin, Belozerov become his deputy, and in May 2015 already at Maxim Sokolov – the first deputy minister of transport.

Source “Gazety.Ru” who worked with Belozyorov in Rosavtodor, described him as a technocrat and a workaholic, which promotes the interests represented by the industry. “That’s when it was first adopted a law on” highways “that regulate the activity of the entire industry,” – said the source “Gazety.Ru”.

At the same time, another source admits that the experience had Belozerova railways bit.

«The fact that he had previously not particularly shone through the railways – a strong move of the government, because it is not from the team Railways – commented on the appointment Belozerova source “Gazety.Ru”. – In addition, he led the long Rosavtodor and knows how to work the whole transport industry within. To be the head of the Russian Railways, it is necessary to understand how to interact with each other all the transport sector, including competing. ”

Asked which team soon include a new head of Russian Railways, the source said that Belozerov came to the Transport Ministry at Levitin (currently assistant to the president), and then worked for three years together with the current Minister of Transport Maxim Sokolov, is a person of Dmitry Medvedev. At the same time a few years ago and he Belozerov considered as a possible candidate for the post of minister, he said in an interview with “Gazetoy.Ru” another source close to the Ministry of Transport.