Foreign intelligence chief dismissed
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has dismissed military intelligence leader Valentin Korabelnikov. The dismissal might mark the start of a major military intelligence reform in Russia.
Mr. Korabelnikov had expressed major opposition to the ongoing military reforms in the country.
According to a decree from the president, the long-serving GRU chief is now replaced by his deputy Aleksandr Shlyakhturov.
Military analyst Pavel Felgenhauer says to the Moscow Times that the dismissal might be the start of a major reform of Russian military intelligence.
The GRU is controlled by the General Staff of the armed forces and reports directly to the president. It is Russia’s largest spy agency and has an extensive world-wide network of agents.
