President Vladimir Putin creates major arms trading company - Rosoboroneksport

President Vladimir Putin signed a decree dismissing Alexei Ogaryov, head of Russia's major arms exporting company, Rosvooruzheniye, from his post, reported the presidential press service. By yet another decree he sent into resignation Sergei Chemezov, who manages the second biggest arms exporting business, Promeksport. The two companies will be merged to form Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rosoboroneksport. Promeksport's former Deputy General Director Andrei Belyaninov has been appointed as General Director of the new outfit. Alexei Ogaryov has not been saved from the sack by an intercession in his favor by former President Boris Yeltsin, who reportedly contacted Putin on the phone and asked him to leave his protege in the job. But neither has Chemezov profited by his allegedly good relations with the present incumbent, with whom he collaborated in Germany, Strana.ru reports.