MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin sacked a member of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's cabinet on Wednesday after five months in office, asserting his authority over a government some analysts predict will be short-lived. Putin signed a decree dismissing Regional Development Minister Oleg Govorun, one of two ministers he had publicly criticized last month, and replacing him with Igor Slyunyayev, a former governor of Kostroma region northeast of Moscow. The Kremlin has dismissed suggestions that Putin was unhappy with the government, but his criticism of the two ministers added to speculation that he could dismiss Medvedev's cabinet, particularly if economic conditions worsen. It was the first change in the cabinet Putin unveiled two weeks after his May 7 inauguration to a new presidential term after consultations with Medvedev, the protege who served as president during Putin's four-year stint as prime minister. The decree gave no reason for the dismissal and Putin made no mention of Govorun in a meeting with Slyunyayev. He told Slyunyayev he had been recommended by Medvedev, in line with protocol, but the move emphasized that Putin holds ultimate authority. Russia's paramount leader since his initial 2000-2008 presidency, Putin has sometimes used sackings to keep subordinates in line and maintain balance between rival Kremlin factions. Putin had singled out Govorun and the labour minister for criticism at a budget meeting a month ago. He suggested they had failed to implement decrees he issued upon taking office and urged Medvedev, who was not present, to reprimand them. He also said the cabinet's draft three-year spending plan had failed to cover his commitments. Analysts had said after the meeting that Putin was laying the groundwork for the potential dismissal of the government, especially if economic conditions worsened. Putin told the new minister to pay particular attention to moving Russians out of the dangerously decrepit housing that is a common cause of complaint in far-flung regions, where Putin draws strong support as city-dwellers tire of his 12-year rule. Russia probes protest leader over ‘mass riot plot' Russia on Wednesday opened a criminal probe into opposition protest leader Sergei Udaltsov, accusing him of plotting mass riots based on allegations aired in a television documentary. The legal action came after a pro-Kremlin national channel earlier this month aired a documentary about Udaltsov featuring hidden camera footage that alleged he was planning to stage a violent uprising. The shaven-headed activist, 35, known for his punchy rhetoric and radical politics, is one of the key organizers and speakers at mass rallies against President Putin in central Moscow. Udaltsov has dismissed the film aired October 5 as the “delirium of a lunatic”. On Wednesday afternoon Udaltsov made a victory sign as he was led to a van by special forces officers in black masks following a five-hour search of his family's Moscow apartment. “This is lawlessness and provocation and I hope that society will not be silent,” Udaltsov said, Interfax news agency reported. — Agencies
