105-657: Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu (born 21 May 1955) is a Russian politician and military officer who has served as secretary of the Security Council since 2024. He served as Minister of Defence of Russia from 2012 to 2024. Shoigu has served as the chairman of the Council of Ministers of Defense of the Commonwealth of Independent States since 2012. Shoigu was the Minister of Emergency Situations from 1991 to 2012. He briefly served as
210-479: A constitutional crisis arose in the Russian Federation from a conflict between the then Russian president Boris Yeltsin and the country's parliament . Yeltsin performed a self-coup , dissolving parliament and instituting a presidential rule by decree system. The crisis ended with Yeltsin using military force to attack Moscow's House of Soviets and arrest the lawmakers. In Russia, the events are known as
315-541: A close relationship with Vladimir Putin , and was rewarded by being appointed Governor of Moscow Oblast in 2012, taking office on 11 May of that year. On 6 November 2012, Shoigu was appointed Minister of Defence by Putin, succeeding Anatoly Serdyukov , who had implemented sweeping reforms of the Russian Armed Forces in response to performance in the Russo-Georgian War . According to expert Sergey Smirnov,
420-562: A combat zone without basic military training. On 28 October, Shoigu said that 82,000 mobilized reservists had already been deployed in the combat zone. On 12 October 2022, the independent Russian media project iStories reported that more than 90,000 Russian soldiers had been killed, seriously wounded or gone missing in Ukraine, citing sources close to the Kremlin. On 23 October 2022, Shoigu said, without providing evidence, that Ukraine could escalate
525-572: A confrontational stance, appointed deputy ministers of defense from the military, and removed Serdyukov-appointed civilian tax service officials from the top echelons of the Ministry of Defense. As defence minister, Shoigu continued aspects of Serdyukov's attempts at modernizing the Russian Armed Forces through reform. This included the creation of the Special Operations Forces Command to facilitate rapid intervention in conflicts within
630-466: A constitutional mechanism to implement his victory. As before, the president had to appeal to the people over the heads of the legislature. On 1 May , antigovernment protests organized by the hardline opposition turned violent. Numerous deputies of the Supreme Soviet took part in organizing the protest and in its course. One OMON police officer suffered fatal injuries during the riot. As a reaction,
735-546: A few days later, did not contain unconstitutional steps. The ninth congress, which opened on 26 March, began with an extraordinary session of the Congress of People's Deputies taking up discussions of emergency measures to defend the constitution, including impeachment of President Yeltsin. Yeltsin conceded that he had made mistakes and reached out to swing voters in parliament. Yeltsin narrowly survived an impeachment vote on March 28, votes for impeachment falling 72 short of
840-631: A few years. In 1990, Shoigu moved to Moscow from Siberia , and was appointed deputy chairman of the State Architecture and Construction Committee of the Russian Federation, assisted by his father's connections. Future president Boris Yeltsin had held a similar position in the Construction Committee, and had also come from a civil engineering and party background, so Shoigu gained Yeltsin's trust. In 1991, Yeltsin appointed him head of
945-582: A key adversary. Rutskoy, elected on the same ticket as Yeltsin in 1991, was the president's automatic successor. A presidential spokesman said that he had been suspended because of "accusations of corruption", due to alleged corruption charges, which was not further confirmed. On 3 September, the Supreme Soviet rejected Yeltsin's suspension of Rutskoy and referred the question to the Constitutional Court. Two weeks later, Yeltsin declared that he would agree to call early presidential elections provided that
1050-408: A majority of voters expressed confidence in the president, and called for new legislative elections. Yeltsin termed the results a mandate for him to continue in power. Before the referendum, Yeltsin had promised to resign, if the electorate failed to express confidence in his policies. Although this permitted the president to declare that the population supported him, not the parliament, Yeltsin lacked
1155-553: A new Russian constitution to be held in April 1993; (2) most of Yeltsin's emergency powers were extended until the referendum; (3) the parliament asserted its right to nominate and vote on its own choices for prime minister; and (4) the parliament asserted its right to reject the president's choices to head the Defense, Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Security ministries. Yeltsin nominated Viktor Chernomyrdin to be prime minister on 14 December, and
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#17328760108811260-534: A number of decrees that revised economic policy, in order to "end the division of society", It also launched investigations of key advisers of the president, accusing them of corruption. The president returned in August and declared that he would deploy all means, including circumventing the constitution, to achieve new parliamentary elections. In July, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation confirmed
1365-466: A number of the representatives of Saint Petersburg intelligentia (e.g., Oleg Basilashvili , Aleksei German , Boris Strugatsky ) sent a petition to president Yeltsin, urging "putting an end to the street criminality under political slogans". On 29 April 1993, Boris Yeltsin released the text of his proposed constitution to a meeting of government ministers and leaders of the republics and regions, according to ITAR-TASS . On 12 May Yeltsin called for
1470-513: A political standoff with Russia's parliament, which in 1993 was composed of the Congress of People's Deputies and the Supreme Soviet . After holding a four-part referendum in April on support for his leadership and socio-economical policies, as well as on support for early elections, Yeltsin called for parliamentary elections and dissolved the legislature on 21 September in a move not authorized by
1575-401: A quarter trillion U.S. per annum. The United States provided an estimated $ 2.58 billion of official aid to Russia during the eight years of Clinton's presidency, to build a new economic system, and he encouraged American businesses to invest. Leaders of oil -rich republics such as Tatarstan and Bashkiria called for full independence from Russia. Also throughout 1992, Yeltsin wrestled with
1680-518: A quasi-military organization in continuation of Soviet practice and Shoigu was politically involved, such as an unsuccessful attempt to evacuate Russian-backed Afghan president Mohammad Najibullah in 1992 and the intended distribution of weapons from the Civil Defense stocks to Yeltsin supporters during the October 1993 coup . In keeping with the militarized nature of Russian civil defense, Shoigu received
1785-531: A security risk by authorities such as Chechens. This followed on from Serdyukov's initiatives of reducing available draft exemptions. In November 2012, Shoigu decided to resurrect the tradition of Suvorov and Nakhimov cadets participating in the 9 May parade . In July 2013 Shoigu ordered commanders to begin every morning in the barracks with a rendition of the Russian anthem, to compile an obligatory military-patriotic book reading list and to take responsibility for
1890-451: A situation of a deepest economic crisis. The Supreme Soviet has stopped taking into account the decrees of the president, his amendments of the legislative projects, even his constitutional veto rights. Constitutional reform has practically been pared down. The process of creating rule of law in Russia has essentially been disorganized. On the contrary, what is going on is a deliberate reduction of
1995-612: A special assembly of the Federation Council, which had been formed 17 July 1990 within the office of the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR, and other representatives, including political leaders from a wide range of government institutions, regions, public organizations, and political parties, to finalize a draft for a new constitution from 5–10 June, and was followed by a similar decree 21 May. After much hesitation,
2100-448: A telephone conversation with Shoigu, the first call since 18 February. The call lasted about an hour with Austin urging an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. Also on 13 May, former FSB officer and former DPR Supreme Commander Igor Girkin harshly criticized Shoigu, accusing him of "criminal negligence" in conducting the invasion. On 16 August, Shoigu said that Russia does not need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, as "its main purpose
2205-407: Is being mercilessly expelled from the Supreme Soviet, from its presidium. ... This is all bitter evidence of the fact that the Supreme Soviet as a state institution is currently in a state of decay ... . The power in the Supreme Soviet has been captured by a group of persons who have turned it into an HQ of the intransigent opposition. ... The only way to overcome the paralysis of the state authority in
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#17328760108812310-553: Is to deter a nuclear attack. Its use is limited to extraordinary circumstances." At the 10th Moscow Conference on International Security in August 2022, Shoigu hosted 35 defense ministers from Asia , Africa and Latin America . He described South Africa as a "friendly state" and that South Africa's support has helped counter NATO pressure on Russia. Shoigu and Putin attended the Vostok-2022 [ ru ] military exercise in
2415-428: The 2022 Russian mobilization is being carried out to control "already liberated territories" in Ukraine. According to Shoigu, it is planned to mobilize 300,000 reservists. Shoigu said the mobilized people could only be sent to combat zones after "training and combat coordination". However, some of the mobilized Russian men were killed less than two weeks after being drafted, meaning conscripted civilians are being sent to
2520-520: The Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. The Federation Council , which would bring together representatives from the 89 subdivisions of the Russian Federation, would assume the role of an upper house. Yeltsin claimed that by dissolving the Russian parliament in September 1993 he was clearing the tracks for a rapid transition to a functioning market economy. With this pledge, he received strong backing from
2625-536: The Central Military District . Already in 2015 western observers mentioned the Vienna Document while they spoke of "the deteriorating European security environment.. producing an action-reaction cycle involving Russia, NATO and other European countries, all seeking to demonstrate the readiness of their armed forces." In March 2015 Russia under Shoigu's defence ministry halted all activities related to
2730-470: The Communist Party of the Russian Federation did not participate in the events, individual members of communist organizations actively supported the parliament. On 23 September, with the observance of a quorum, the Congress of People's Deputies was convened (the quorum was 638). Congress purported to impeach Yeltsin. The same day, Yeltsin announced presidential elections for June 1994. On 24 September,
2835-731: The Donbas town of Kadiivka and had traumatizing experiences while under detention of the German occupation forces during World War II . Later in her career she became a member of the Tuva Regional Council of People's Deputies. Kuzhuget Shoigu rose to secretary of the Tuvan Regional Committee of the Communist Party , becoming a major figure in the Communist power structure of the republic. After graduating from Kyzyl Number 1 School in
2940-649: The Seychelles , Singapore , and several other countries either to house permanent military bases and/or to house airplane refueling stations in those countries. Over the next year, only an agreement with Vietnam was effectively signed. From early 2013 the Shoigu ministry made use of snap exercises as a means to ensure combat readiness of the Eastern Military District , the Western Military District , and
3045-615: The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe . In October 2016 Shoigu hosted 56 representatives from 31 different OSCE nations, with Shoigu stating that the observers "had a chance to see with their own eyes that Russia had fully implemented its obligations on ensuring confidence and security in Europe". The observers were also shown new weapons deployed to the Russian Aerospace Force, Ground and Airborne Forces . The previous visit of
3150-685: The Tuvan ASSR , Shoigu studied at the Krasnoyarsk Polytechnic Institute . Shoigu graduated in 1977 with a degree in civil engineering . Shoigu worked in construction projects nationwide for the next decade, advancing from low levels to become an executive. In 1988, Shoigu became a minor functionary in the Abakan branch of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union , and then in the Komsomol for
3255-562: The campaign liberating the western bank of the Euphrates in its final days, Putin visited the Russian base in Syria, where he announced that he had ordered the partial withdrawal of the forces deployed to Syria. Several hours later, Shoigu said the troops had already begun to return. On 26 December 2017, Shoigu said that Russia had set about "forming a permanent grouping" at the Tartus naval facility and
Sergei Shoigu - Misplaced Pages Continue
3360-550: The governor of Moscow Oblast in 2012. A close confidant and ally of Vladimir Putin , Shoigu belongs to the siloviki of Putin's inner circle. He was entrusted with the task of supervising the invasion of Ukraine since 2022. A feud between Shoigu and Yevgeny Prigozhin led to a mutiny by the Wagner Group in June 2023. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Shoigu on charges of alleged war crimes during
3465-483: The " October Coup " ( Russian : Октябрьский путч , romanized : Oktyabr'skiy putch ) or " Black October " ( Russian : Чëрный октябрь , romanized : Chornyi Oktyabr' ). Yeltsin assumed the presidency of the Russian Federation following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991; the Soviet-era 1978 Russian constitution remained in effect. Yeltsin began assuming increasing powers, leading to
3570-408: The 689 votes needed for a 2/3 majority. The similar proposal to dismiss Ruslan Khasbulatov, the chairman of the Supreme Soviet was defeated by a wider margin (339 in favour of the motion), though 614 deputies had initially been in favour of including the re-election of the chairman in the agenda, a tell-tale sign of the weakness of Khasbulatov's own positions (517 votes for would have sufficed to dismiss
3675-495: The Congress of People's Deputies voted to hold simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections by March 1994. Yeltsin scoffed at the parliament-backed proposal for simultaneous elections, and responded the next day by cutting off electricity, phone service, and hot water in the parliament building. Yeltsin also sparked popular unrest with his dissolution of a Congress and parliament increasingly opposed to his neoliberal economic reforms. Tens of thousands of Russians marched in
3780-469: The Constitutional Committee of the Congress of People's Deputies decided to participate and present its own draft constitution. Of course, the two main drafts contained contrary views of legislative-executive relations. Some 700 representatives at the conference ultimately adopted a draft constitution on 12 July that envisaged a bicameral legislature and the dissolution of the congress. But because
3885-532: The Constitutional Court held that Yeltsin had violated the constitution and could be impeached. During an all-night session, chaired by Khasbulatov, parliament declared the president's decree null and void. Rutskoy was proclaimed acting president until new elections. He dismissed the key ministers Pavel Grachev (defense), Nikolay Golushko (security), and Viktor Yerin (interior). Russia now had two presidents and two ministers of defense, security, and interior. Although Gennady Zyuganov and other top leaders of
3990-511: The Defense Minister – who allowed things to come to this – should simply shoot himself like a [real] officer." On 21 September 2022, Shoigu said in a televised speech that Russia was not so much at war with Ukraine and the Ukrainian army as with the " collective West " and NATO . In September 2022, Shoigu claimed that 5,397 Russian soldiers had been killed in the war in Ukraine. He said that
4095-620: The Hmeymim airbase, after Putin approved their structure and personnel strength. On the same day, the upper chamber of parliament approved the ratification of an agreement between Russia and Syria on expanding the Tartus naval facility, which envisages turning it into a full-fledged naval base. On 17 September 2018, during multiple missile strikes by Israeli F-16 jets at targets in western Syria, Russia's Il-20 ELINT reconnaissance plane returning to Khmeimim Air Base, with 15 Russian servicemen on board,
4200-510: The IMF, World Bank, and U.S. Treasury Department-backed reform policies adopted in Russia, often called " shock therapy ", were responsible for Russia's poor record of economic performance in the 1990s or rather that Yeltsin had not gone far enough. Under the Western-backed economic program adopted by Yeltsin, the Russian government took several radical measures at once that were supposed to stabilize
4305-504: The Ministry that "The requirements for fulfilling the defense procurement plan have risen dramatically. Over the past nine years, we have received 15,500 weapon systems for the ground forces. In 1999–2002, we had gotten 10 or 19 aircraft at best, that is, fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft all together. That's why now that we receive 140–150 aircraft annually, this is quite a different story." In August 2021, Shoigu praised military cooperation between Russia and China . On 29 August 2021, Shoigu
Sergei Shoigu - Misplaced Pages Continue
4410-725: The OSCE observers took place in 2011. In July 2014, Ukraine opened a criminal case against Shoigu. He was accused of helping to form "illegal military groups" in Eastern Ukraine who at the time fought against the Ukrainian army . The Ukrainian authorities alleged that Shoigu coordinated all of DPR Supreme Commander Igor Girkin 's actions, supplying him and "other terrorist leaders" with "the most destructive weapons" since May and instructing him directly, with Putin's approval. In July 2016 Shoigu said that he had "deployed more air defense systems in
4515-475: The President, a course of transformations, or the course of the Congress, the Supreme Soviet and its Chairman, a course towards folding up reforms, and ultimately towards the deepening of the crisis." Parliament responded by voting to take control of the army. On 12 December, Yeltsin and parliament speaker Khasbulatov agreed on a compromise that included the following provisions: (1) a national referendum on framing
4620-657: The Russian federal status " of the city. Ukraine saw its territorial integrity at stake and filed a complaint to the Security Council of the UN. Yeltsin condemned the resolution of the Supreme Soviet. In August 1993, a commentator reflected on the situation as follows: "The President issues decrees as if there were no Supreme Soviet, and the Supreme Soviet suspends decrees as if there were no President." ( Izvestiya , August 13, 1993). The president launched his offensive on 1 September when he attempted to suspend Vice President Rutskoy,
4725-505: The Russian Far East. Beyond Russian troops, the exercises also included military forces from China , India , Mongolia and several post-Soviet states , among others. After large Ukrainian counteroffensives in September 2022, Igor Girkin said that Shoigu should be executed by firing squad . The Russia-installed governor of Ukraine's Kherson region Kirill Stremousov said in a video shared on social media that "Many are saying that
4830-474: The Russian Federation is its fundamental renewal on the basis of the principles of popular power and constitutionality. The constitution currently in force does not enable this. The constitution in force also does not provide for a procedure of passing a new constitution, that would provide for a worthy exit from the crisis of state power. I as the guarantor of the security of our state have to propose an exit from this deadlock, have to break this vicious circle. At
4935-570: The Russian Navy's drills in the area. Following the shoot down incident, Shoigu on 24 September said that within two weeks, the Syrian army would receive S-300 air-defense missile systems to strengthen Syria's combat air defence capabilities; a series of other military measures were announced such as radio-electronic jamming of "satellite navigation, onboard radars and communications systems used by military aircraft attacking targets in Syrian territory", in
5040-562: The Security Council of Russia The Secretary of the Security Council of RF is the head of the Security Council office and the national security advisor to the Russian President . The Secretary is appointed by and reports directly to the President. The Secretary organizes the work of the Council, attends Council meetings and coordinates the security policy of the Russian government . However,
5145-538: The Supreme Soviet (the standing legislature) and the Russian Congress of People's Deputies (the country's highest legislative body, from which the Supreme Soviet members were drawn) for control over government and government policy. In 1992 the speaker of the Russian Supreme Soviet, Ruslan Khasbulatov , came out in opposition to the reforms, despite claiming to support Yeltsin's overall goals. The president
5250-418: The Supreme Soviet is directly against the will of the Russian people. A course was taken in favour of the weakening of the president and ultimately his removal from office, of the disorganization of the work of the government; during the last months, dozens of unpopular decisions have been prepared and passed. ... Many of these were deliberately planned to worsen the situation in Russia. The more flagrant ones are
5355-560: The Supreme Soviet), Alexander Rutskoy and Valentin Stepankov ( Prosecutor-General ) made an address, publicly condemning Yeltsin's declaration as unconstitutional. On 23 March, although not yet possessing the signed document, the Constitutional Court ruled that some of the measures proposed in Yeltsin's TV address were unconstitutional; however, the decree itself, that was only published
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#17328760108815460-597: The areas of the Mediterranean off the Syrian coast. Shoigu said in August 2021 that Russia had tested 320 new weapons over the course of its campaign in Syria. Shoigu was reappointed as defence minister in 2018 in the Medvedev second government . Shoigu was reappointed as defence minister in 2020 in the Mishustin government . In an August 2021 " Solovyov Live " YouTube channel interview, Shoigu said referring to his tenure in
5565-465: The authority to replace or amend the constitution). In the Russian Congress of People's Deputies and in the Supreme Soviet, the deputies refused to adopt a new constitution that would enshrine the scope of presidential powers demanded by Yeltsin into law. Another cause of conflict also called repeated refusal of the Congress of People's Deputies to ratify the Belovezha Accords on the termination of
5670-442: The citizens of Russia, President Yeltsin argued for the decree nr 1400 as follows: Already for more than a year attempts were made to reach a compromise with the corps of deputies, with the Supreme Soviet. Russians know well how many steps were taken by my side during the last congresses and between them. ... The last days destroyed once and for all the hopes for a resurrection of at least some constructive cooperation. The majority of
5775-516: The climax of the crisis, Russia was thought by some to be "on the brink" of civil war . The 10-day conflict became the deadliest single event of street fighting in Moscow's history since the October Revolution ; 147 people were killed and 437 wounded according to the official Russian government statistics. In the wake of the events, Yeltsin consolidated his position, further expanded the powers of
5880-454: The condition of Russian industry and among regional leaders who wanted more independence from Moscow . Russia's vice president, Alexander Rutskoy , denounced the Yeltsin program as "economic genocide". From 1991 to 1998, the first seven years of Yeltsin's incumbency, the Russian GDP (measured by purchasing power parity ) went from over two trillion U.S. dollars annually to less than one and
5985-506: The constitution, nor approved by the referendum. On 23 September, the parliament (led by Supreme Soviet Chairman Ruslan Khasbulatov ) impeached Yeltsin, proclaimed vice president Alexander Rutskoy the acting president, and barricaded itself in the White House building. Ten days of street fighting commenced between police and demonstrators loyal to Yeltsin and the parliamentarians. On 3 October, demonstrators removed militia cordons around
6090-413: The constitution, strip Yeltsin of many of his powers, and cancel the scheduled April referendum, again opening the door to legislation that would shift the balance of power away from the president. The president stalked out of the congress. Vladimir Shumeyko , first deputy prime minister, declared that the referendum would go ahead, but on 25 April. The parliament was gradually expanding its influence over
6195-480: The convention's draft of the constitution would dissolve the congress, there was little likelihood that the congress would vote itself out of existence. The Supreme Soviet immediately rejected the draft and declared that the Congress of People's Deputies was the supreme lawmaking body and hence would decide on the new constitution. The parliament was active in July–August, while the president was on vacation, and passed
6300-455: The economic program and directed the Central Bank, which was under the parliament's control, to continue issuing credits to enterprises to keep them from shutting down. In an angry speech the next day on 10 December, Yeltsin accused the Congress of blocking the government's reforms and suggested the people decide on a referendum , "which course do the citizens of Russia support? The course of
6405-406: The economy by bringing state spending and revenues into balance and by letting market demand determine the prices and supply of goods. Under the reforms, the government let most prices float , raised taxes, and cut back sharply on spending in industry and construction. These policies caused widespread hardship as many state enterprises found themselves without orders or financing. The rationale of
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#17328760108816510-717: The economy where efficiency and risk would be rewarded and waste and carelessness were punished. Removing the causes of chronic inflation , the reform's architects argued, was a precondition for all other reforms. Hyperinflation would wreck both democracy and economic progress, they argued; only by stabilizing the state budget could the government proceed to restructure the economy. A similar reform program had been adopted in Poland in January 1990 , with generally favorable results. However, Western critics of Yeltsin's reform, most notably Joseph Stiglitz and Marshall Goldman (who would have favored
6615-559: The election of Pyotr Sumin to head the administration of the Chelyabinsk Oblast , something that Yeltsin had refused to accept. As a result, a situation of dual power existed in that region from July to October in 1993, with two administrations claiming legitimacy simultaneously. Another conflict involved the decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation regarding the regional presidency in Mordovia . The court delegated
6720-488: The executive, and pushed through the adoption of the 1993 constitution of the Russian Federation . The Soviet Union was dissolved on 26 December 1991 and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic gained its independence as the Russian Federation . In Russia, Yeltsin's economic reform program took effect on 2 January 1992. Soon afterward, prices skyrocketed, government spending
6825-668: The existence of the USSR, and to exclude from the text of the Constitution of the RSFSR of 1978 references to the Constitution and laws of the USSR. During its December session, the parliament clashed with Yeltsin on a number of issues, and the conflict came to a head on 9 December when the parliament refused to confirm Yegor Gaidar , the widely unpopular architect of Russia's " shock therapy " market liberalizations, as prime minister. The parliament refused to nominate Gaidar, demanding modifications of
6930-536: The fight against our country". The sources say the decision to invade Ukraine was made by Putin and a small group of war hawks in Putin's inner circle, including Sergei Shoigu and Putin's national security adviser Nikolai Patrushev . In a 11 March video conference with Putin, Shoigu claimed that "everything is going to plan". On 24 April, Putin decided to broadcast with English subtitles an 11-minute long Siege of Mariupol situation report meeting with Shoigu. On 13 May, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin initiated
7035-423: The government. On 16 March, the president signed a decree that conferred Cabinet rank on Viktor Gerashchenko , chairman of the central bank, and three other officials; this was in accordance with the decision of the eighth congress that these officials should be members of the government. The congress' ruling, however, had made it clear that as ministers they would continue to be subordinate to parliament. In general,
7140-457: The invasion of Ukraine. In May 2024, Putin replaced Shoigu with Andrey Belousov as defense minister, appointing the former to be the secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation . Shoigu was born on 21 May 1955 in Chadan , Tuvan Autonomous Oblast , to an ethnic Tuvan father, newspaper editor Kuzhuget Shoigu (1921–2010) and a Ukrainian-born Russian mother, Alexandra Yakovlevna Shoigu (1924–2011). Alexandra Shoigu grew up in
7245-415: The leading powers of the West. Yeltsin enjoyed a strong relationship with the Western powers, particularly the United States , but the relationship made him unpopular with many Russians. In Russia, the Yeltsin side had control over television, where hardly any pro-parliament views were expressed during the September–October crisis. Rutskoy called Yeltsin's move a step toward a coup d'état . The next day,
7350-454: The legal basis of the young Russian state, which is weak enough without this. The legislative work became a weapon of political struggle. Laws, that Russia urgently needs, are being delayed for years. ... For a long time, most of the sessions of the Supreme Soviet take place with infringements of elementary procedures and order... A cleansing of committees and commissions is taking place. Everyone who does not show personal loyalty to its leader
7455-404: The meeting which also included General Valery Gerasimov that it was important to implement the Minsk agreements "as a clear way forward". On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a large-scale military invasion of Ukraine . Shoigu said the purpose of the invasion "is to protect the Russian Federation from the military threat posed by Western countries, who are trying to use the Ukrainian people in
7560-497: The newly established Russian Rescue Corps, responsible for the rescue and disaster response system. The Rescue Corps replaced the previous Soviet civil defense system and soon absorbed the 20,000-strong militarized Civil Defense Troops of the Ministry of Defense, with Shoigu being appointed chairman of the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Civil Defense, Emergency Situations, and Disaster Response. Civil Defense remained
7665-480: The opposing bloc of Yeltsin supporters (Democratic Russia and Radical Democrats) in a clear minority. The referendum would go ahead, but since the impeachment vote failed, the Congress of People's Deputies sought to set new terms for a popular referendum. The legislature's version of the referendum asked whether citizens had confidence in Yeltsin, approved of his reforms, and supported early presidential and legislative elections. The parliament voted that in order to win,
7770-429: The parliament also called elections. The parliament ignored him. On 18 September, Yeltsin then named Yegor Gaidar, who had been forced out of office by parliamentary opposition in 1992, a deputy prime minister and a deputy premier for economic affairs. This appointment was unacceptable to the Supreme Soviet. On 21 September, Yeltsin declared the Congress of People's Deputies and the Supreme Soviet dissolved; this act
7875-615: The parliament and, urged by their leaders, took over the mayor's offices and tried to storm the Ostankino television centre. On 4 October, the army, which had remained neutral, shelled the White House using tanks and stormed the building with special forces on Yeltsin's orders, arresting the surviving leaders of the resistance. All of those involved in the events were later granted amnesty by the State Duma in February 1994 and released from jail. At
7980-567: The parliament confirmed him. Yeltsin's December 1992 compromise with the seventh Congress of the People's Deputies temporarily backfired. Early 1993 saw increasing tension between Yeltsin and the parliament over the language of the referendum and power sharing. In a series of collisions over policy, the congress whittled away the president's extraordinary powers, which it had granted him in late 1991. The legislature, marshaled by Speaker Ruslan Khasbulatov , began to sense that it could block and even defeat
8085-479: The parliament's lawmaking activity decreased in 1993, as its agenda increasingly became dominated by efforts to increase the parliamentarian powers and reduce those of the president. The president's response was dramatic. On 20 March, Yeltsin addressed the nation directly on television, declaring that he had signed a decree on a "special regime" (Об особом порядке управления до преодоления кризиса власти), under which he would assume extraordinary executive power pending
8190-437: The perceived Russian sphere of influence and counterterrorism efforts. Serdyukov's goals of increasing the share of the Russian Armed Forces made up of professional contract servicemen rather than conscripts continued under Shoigu. However, the demographic challenge of a decreasing pool of military-aged and -eligible males forced him to increase national conscription quotas in early 2013, including even North Caucasians perceived as
8295-472: The possibility of the Russian forces "reaching the Euphrates " in Syria. In June 2016, Russia Today , while reporting minister Shoigu's visit to Hmeymim air base , showed RBK-500 ZAB-2.5SM incendiary cluster bombs being loaded onto Russian airplanes. After this information was discovered to be inconsistent with official Russian statements, the video was removed. It was later reinstated. An editorial note below
8400-405: The preparation of demobilization albums (a type of memento scrapbook, which in Russian military tradition is given to conscripts upon completion of their service). In August 2013 he ordered all Defense Ministry civilian workers, other staff and management employees to wear uniforms. In February 2014, Shoigu said Russia was planning to sign agreements with Vietnam , Cuba , Venezuela , Nicaragua ,
8505-468: The president would need to obtain 50 percent of the whole electorate, rather than 50 percent of those actually voting, to avoid an early presidential election. This time, the Constitutional Court supported Yeltsin and ruled that the president required only a simple majority on two issues: confidence in him, and economic and social policy; he would need the support of half the electorate in order to call new parliamentary and presidential elections. On 25 April,
8610-445: The president. The tactic that it adopted was gradually to erode presidential control over the government. In response, the president called a referendum on a constitution for 11 April. The eighth Congress of People's Deputies opened on 10 March 1993, with a strong attack on the president by Khasbulatov, who accused Yeltsin of acting unconstitutionally. In mid-March, an emergency session of the Congress of People's Deputies voted to amend
8715-490: The program was to squeeze the built-in inflationary pressure out of the economy so that the newly privatized producers would begin making sensible decisions about production, pricing and investment instead of chronically overusing resources, as in the Soviet era . By letting the market rather than central planners determine prices, product mixes, output levels, and the like, the reformers intended to create an incentive structure in
8820-593: The question of legality of abolishing the post of the region's president to the Constitutional Court of Mordovia. As a result, popularly elected President Vasily Guslyannikov , member of the pro-Yeltsin Democratic Russia movement, lost his position. Thereafter, the state news agency ( ITAR-TASS ) ceased to report on a number of Constitutional Court decisions. The Supreme Soviet also tried to further foreign policies that differed from Yeltsin's line. Thus, on 9 July 1993, it passed resolutions on Sevastopol , "confirming
8925-539: The rank of major general in 1993, and was promoted swiftly to lieutenant general in 1995, colonel general in 1998, and to army general , in practice the highest Russian military rank, in 2003. The committee was renamed the Ministry of Emergency Situations ( MChS ) in 1994, making Shoigu a government minister. He became popular because of his hands-on management style and high visibility during emergency situations, such as floods, earthquakes and acts of terrorism . Under Shoigu,
9030-599: The responsibilities of the ministry were expanded to take over the Russian State Fire Service in 2002, making the MChS Russia's third-largest force structure. In 1999 he became one of the leaders of the Russian pro-government party Unity , created by the Kremlin in opposition to the anti-Yeltsin elites of the Fatherland – All Russia alliance. Unity allowed for the rise of Vladimir Putin to president and in 2001
9135-432: The results of a referendum on the timing of new legislative elections, on a new constitution, and on public confidence in the president and vice-president. Yeltsin also bitterly attacked the parliament, accusing the deputies of trying to restore the Soviet-era order. Soon after Yeltsin's televised address, Valery Zorkin (Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation ), Yuri Voronin (first vice-chairman of
9240-434: The role has been a de facto sinecure position for those who have served as heads of security agencies. For instance, Vladimir Rushailo served as interior minister of Russia from 1999 to 2001. The office is not de jure a powerful position, and its influence significantly depends on who holds it. Former secretary Nikolai Patrushev was described as being one of closest advisors to Russian President Vladimir Putin and
9345-402: The same time, Yeltsin repeated his announcement of a constitutional referendum, and new legislative elections for December. He also repudiated the Constitution of 1978, declaring that it had been replaced with one that gave him extraordinary executive powers. According to the new plan, the lower house would have 450 deputies and be called the State Duma , the name of the Russian legislature before
9450-472: The so called "Petersburg group" of siloviki ( Sergei Ivanov , Sergey Chemezov and Viktor Ivanov ) had wanted one of its associates to succeed Serdyukov, but Putin was reluctant to strengthen the clan and opted for the neutral Shoigu. As defence minister, Shoigu on multiple occasions accompanied Putin during weekend breaks that the pair would spend at undisclosed locations in the Siberian countryside. Serdyukov
9555-434: The so-called economic policies of the Supreme Soviet, and its decisions on the budget and privatization; there are many others that deepen the crisis, cause colossal damage to the country. All attempts of the government undertaken to at least somewhat alleviate the economic situation are met with incomprehension. There is hardly a day when the cabinet of ministers is not harassed, its hands are not being tied. And this happens in
9660-517: The southwest [of Russia]" and "also deployed a 'self-sufficient' contingent of troops in Crimea ", adding "Since 2013 ... we have formed four divisions, nine brigades and 22 regiments. They include two missile brigades armed with Iskander missile complexes, which has allowed to boost fire power to destroy the potential adversary." In July 2018 Shoigu warned that the Poroshenko administration of Ukraine
9765-599: The speaker). By the time of the ninth Congress, the legislative branch was dominated by the joint communist-nationalist Russian Unity bloc, which included representatives of the CPRF and the Fatherland faction (communists, retired military personnel, and other deputies of a socialist orientation), Agrarian Union , and the Russia faction led by Sergey Baburin . These groups, together with more centrist groups like Change (Смена), left
9870-515: The streets of Moscow seeking to bolster the parliamentary cause. The demonstrators were protesting against the deteriorating living conditions. Since 1989, the GDP had been declining, corruption was rampant, violent crime was skyrocketing, medical services were collapsing and life expectancy falling. Yeltsin was also increasingly getting the blame. It is still hotly debated among Western economists, social scientists, and policy-makers as to whether or not
9975-454: The video made no mention of the weapon, saying a frame in the video has caused "concern for personnel safety" because of a pilot's close-up. "Upon re-evaluation it was deemed that the frame did not pose any risks; it had since been restored and the video is up in its original cut", the RT statement said. On 11 December 2017, days after declaring Syria had been "completely liberated" from ISIL and with
10080-535: The war with a dirty bomb —or an explosive that contains radioactive waste material. The UK, US and French governments rejected what they called "Russia's transparently false allegations" against Ukraine, adding: "The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation." On 1 November 2022, Shoigu admitted that the Russian military was destroying Ukrainian energy facilities . On 6 December 2022, he said that Russian forces are "inflicting massive strikes" on Ukraine. Secretary of
10185-486: Was combined into the ruling United Russia party, although Shoigu was the only delegate to vote against the merger. In 1999, Shoigu was awarded Russia's most prestigious state award: Hero of the Russian Federation . In March 2009, he proposed a law that would criminalize criticism of Soviet military tactics during World War II , which resulted in large numbers of Soviet casualties . With over twenty years of service as Minister of Emergency Situations, Shoigu established
10290-426: Was concerned about the terms of the constitutional amendments passed in late 1991, which meant that his special powers of decree were set to expire by the end of 1992 (Yeltsin expanded the powers of the presidency beyond normal constitutional limits in carrying out the reform program). Yeltsin, awaiting implementation of his privatization program, demanded that parliament reinstate his decree powers (only parliament had
10395-495: Was in contradiction with a number of articles of the Constitution of 1978 (as amended 1989–1993), such as, Article 121 which stated: The powers of the President of Russian Federation cannot be used to change the national and state organization of the Russian Federation, to dissolve or to interfere with the functioning of any elected organs of state power. In this case, his powers cease immediately. In his television appearance to
10500-456: Was inadvertently downed by a Syrian S-200 surface-to-air missile. Russia's defence minister the following day blamed Israel's military for the accident and re-affirmed its stance in a minute-by-minute report presented on 23 September. Early on 20 September, Russia's government-run news agency reported Russia had announced multiple areas of eastern Mediterranean ″near Syria, Lebanon, and Cyprus" shut for air and sea traffic until 26 September, due to
10605-521: Was key in influencing Putin to invade Ukraine in 2014 and in 2022 . Former defense minister Sergei Shoigu has served as Secretary since May 12, 2024. 1993 Russian constitutional crisis Victory of pro-Yeltsin forces: [REDACTED] Presidential forces : [REDACTED] Parliamentary forces : Anti-Yeltsin opposition : CPSU membership Elections First term Second term Post-Presidency [REDACTED] Media gallery In September and October 1993,
10710-687: Was not fulfilling the Minsk agreements which were signed in order to end the war in Donbas . On 30 September 2015, Russia began a military operation in Syria . The operation was carried out by the Russian Aerospace Forces , with the support of the Russian Navy and Bashar al-Assad 's Syrian Armed Forces . On 16 December 2015, speaking to the members of the State Duma behind closed doors, Shoigu mentioned
10815-493: Was recorded as saying that "Russia doesn't consider Ukraine as threat", while he expressed the hope that the situation in Ukraine would ultimately change and the "nationalist mayhem" would be stopped. Shoigu said that the Ukrainians "are not just our neighbors, we are a single people". On 11 February 2022, Shoigu met UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace . Shoigu denied that Russia was planning an invasion of Ukraine . Wallace agreed at
10920-544: Was slashed, and heavy new taxes went into effect. A deep credit crunch shut down many industries and led to a protracted depression. As a result, unemployment reached record levels. The program began to lose support, and the ensuing political confrontation between Yeltsin on one side, and the opposition to radical economic reform on the other, became increasingly centered in the two branches of government. Throughout 1992, opposition to Yeltsin's reform policies grew stronger and more intractable among bureaucrats concerned about
11025-426: Was unpopular with senior military leaders and seen by them as a civilian with no military background, something that Shoigu attempted to address by symbolically tying himself to the military through wearing an army general's uniform, reviving historical units dissolved under the reforms, and reinstating officials dismissed by Serdyukov. Furthermore, Shoigu appealed for support for reform within the army rather than taking
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