Dmitry Medvedev's First Cabinet

Dmitry Medvedev's First Cabinet (May 2012 – May 2018)[1] was a cabinet of the government of the Russian Federation following the 2012 Russian presidential election that resulted in the election of Vladimir Putin as the fourth President of Russia.

First Cabinet of Dmitry Medvedev

54th Cabinet of Russia
Date formed21 May 2012
Date dissolved7 May 2018
People and organisations
Head of stateVladimir Putin
Head of governmentDmitry Medvedev
Deputy head of governmentIgor Shuvalov
No. of ministers32
Total no. of members43
Member partyUnited Russia
Status in legislatureMajority
Opposition partyCommunist Party
A Just Russia
Liberal Democratic Party
Opposition leaderGennady Zyuganov
History
PredecessorPutin II
SuccessorMedvedev II
This article is part of
a series about
Dmitry Medvedev

Former Prime Minister of Russia
Former President of Russia

Political views

Elections

Presidency

Premiership


Media gallery

On 8 May 2012, The State Duma, the lower house of the bicameral Russian Parliament, voted in favor of the appointment of former President Dmitry Medvedev as the head of government, and for the first time in the past 12 years, Prime Minister candidate has not received a constitutional majority. PM Medvedev promised to update 80% of the cabinet, but he would not change its structure.[2]

On 8 May 2013, Medvedev's first deputy Vladislav Surkov was relieved of duty after Putin reprimanded the government for failing to carry out all his presidential decrees from the previous year.[3]

The government was dissolved on 7 May 2018, following Putin's inauguration for his 4th term as president, but continued to work as Caretaker Cabinet until the formation of the new Cabinet.[4][5]

Government mechanism

Structural and personnel changes

The government was formed on 21 May 2012,[6][7] shortly after the Prime Minister returned from his visit to the G8 Summit at Camp David.

Under Medvedev, only six out of 22 ministers remained in their previous positions:[8] Anatoly Serdyukov kept his position of the Minister of Defense; Sergei Lavrov kept his position as Minister for Foreign Affairs (and became the longest-serving minister); Anton Siluanov kept his position as Minister of Finance; Vitaly Mutko kept his position as Minister of Sport, and Aleksandr Konovalov kept his position as Minister of Justice, while Vladimir Puchkov was appointed as new Minister for Emergency Situations and Vladimir Kolokoltsev became Minister for Internal Affairs, responsible for the Russian police reform.

The first structural change was the split of the Ministry of Health and Welfare Affairs into two separate Ministries – the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. A new federal ministry was also formed: the Ministry for Development of Russian Far East.[9][10][11]

The Federal Service for Supervision over Health and Social development affairs Under the Ministry for Health was renamed the Federal Service for Supervision over the Health Sphere.

The Ministry for Sports, Tourism and Youth policy was renamed the Ministry of Sports, while the tourism functions were transferred to the Culture Ministry, and the Youth Policy functions were moved to the Ministry for Education.

The Federal Service for Intellectual Property become part of the Ministry for Economic Development.

In June 2012, Medvedev signed a governmental resolution to subordinate the Federal Service for Fisheries to the Ministry of Agriculture.[12]

On 22 April 2015, during a governmental session, Putin proposed Agriculture Minister Nikolai Fyodorov a job as Presidential Aid for Agricultural Affairs. He was replaced by former Governor of Krasnodar Krai, Aleksandr Tkachyov.

New federal bodies and dissolution of some organs

According to the Presidential Decree "On the Federal Bodies of the Executive Authority", new governmental offices were formed:

Medvedev announced on 28 May 2012 that he will manage a weekly session with his Deputies every Monday, while the Session of the Government and the Presidium of the Government will be every Wednesday.[13]

  • On 1 November 2013, the Federal Agency for Construction and Housing was re-established as Federal Ministry for Construction and Housing, and Mikhail Men, previous Governor of Ivanovo Oblast, was appointed as minister.
  • On 31 March 2014, a new ministry was formed, the Ministry for Crimean Affairs. Oleg Savelyev was appointed as the minister of Crimea.

On 8 September 2014, Medvedev decided to abolish the Ministry of Regional Development following the creation of the Ministry for Crimean Affairs, Ministry for North Caucasus Affairs and the Ministry for Development of Russian Far East, which perform the same functions. The functions of the abolished Ministry of Regional Development were distributed between the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice. In addition, Putin signed a decree dissolving the Federal Service for Defence Contracts and the Rosoboronpostavka, Federal Agency for the supply of arms, military and special equipment and supplies, both were under the supervision of the Ministry of Defense.

Overview

Among other objectives, Medvedev's cabinet was tasked with overcoming the lowest growth of the economy since the 2008 Russian financial crisis. To do so, Medvedev offered specific measures including a strict control over tariff rises in coming years, the possible canceling of import duties on scientific equipment, regional tax holidays and a series of new measures implemented through the Central Bank to facilitate long-term investment. He also urged large Russian companies, including gas giant Gazprom, oil titan Rosneft and aluminum producer Rusal, to create their own universities.[14]

Controversies and reception
Medvedev in his working office at the White House at the first day of his first term as Prime Minister, May 8, 2012

In September, Putin openly criticized some Cabinet ministers for failing to fulfill his post-inauguration decrees in what resulted in Regional Development Minister Oleg Govorun resigning.[15]

In 2013 Minister of Education Dmitry Livanov came under heavy criticism and members of the State Duma demanded his resignation. In April 2013 in his first State Duma report speech about the work of the government in the past year, Medvedev began his report just minutes after a video was leaked showing Putin scolding senior government officials for their poor performance during a closed-door meeting that he chaired in the Republic of Kalmykia.[15]

Following the 2014 Crimean crisis and the Annexation of Crimea to Russia and the sanctions that were announced by the U.S, Medvedev assured that the Russian government has all necessary reserves to observe the social obligations. He said that "Despite the complicated situation and the situation in the industry, we shall try to stimulate further growth of industries, their modernization, and we shall also pay attention to investments in agriculture".[16]

On 14 November 2016, the Investigative Committee of Russia announced that Minister of Economic Development Aleksei Ulyukayev had been detained due to allegations that he received a $2 million bribe for an assessment that led to the Kremlin-controlled oil company Rosneft's acquisition of a 50.08% stake in Bashneft.[17] This followed a string operation after months of surveillance.[18] On the same day, Putin dismissed him from his ministerial position.[19]

Cabinet members
Office Term
Prime Minister
Dmitry Medvedev
8 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
First Deputy Prime Minister
Igor Shuvalov
12 May 2008 – 7 May 2018
Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of Staff of the Government
Vladislav Surkov
Sergei Prikhodko
21 May 2012 – 8 May 2013
22 May 2013 – 7 May 2018
Deputy Prime Minister
Dmitry Kozak
21 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
Deputy Prime Minister for Industry and Energy
Arkady Dvorkovich
21 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
Deputy Prime Minister for Defense and Space Industry
Dmitry Rogozin
21 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs
Olga Golodets
21 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
Deputy Prime Minister
Aleksandr Khloponin
21 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
Deputy Prime Minister – Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District
Yury Trutnev
31 August 2013 – 7 May 2018
Deputy Prime Minister for Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy
Vitaly Mutko
19 October 2016 – 7 May 2018
Minister of the Interior Affairs
Vladimir Kolokoltsev
21 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Emergencies
Vladimir Puchkov
21 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Health
Veronika Skvortsova
21 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Sergei Lavrov
9 March 2004 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Communications and Mass Media
Nikolai Nikiforov
21 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Culture
Vladimir Medinsky
21 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Defence
Anatoly Serdyukov
Sergei Shoigu
12 May 2008 – 6 November 2012
6 November 2012 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Education and Science
Dmitry Livanov
Olga Vasilyeva
21 May 2012 – 19 August 2016
19 August 2016 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Natural Resources
Sergei Donskoi
21 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Agriculture and Fishing
Nikolai Fyodorov
Aleksandr Tkachyov
21 May 2012 – 21 April 2015
22 April 2015 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Industry and Trade
Denis Manturov
21 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Transport
Maksim Sokolov
21 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Finance
Anton Siluanov
16 December 2011 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Economic Development
Andrei Belousov
Aleksei Ulyukayev
Yevgeny Yelin (acting)
Maksim Oreshkin
21 May 2012 – 24 June 2013
24 June 2013 – 15 November 2016
15 November 2016 – 30 November 2016
30 November 2016 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
Maksim Topilin
21 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Energy
Aleksandr Novak
21 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Justice
Aleksandr Konovalov
12 May 2008 – 7 May 2018
Minister for Open Government Affairs
Mikhail Abyzov
21 May 2012 – 7 May 2018
Minister for Russian Far East
Viktor Ishayev
Aleksandr Galushka
21 May 2012 – 31 August 2013
11 September 2013 – 7 May 2018
Ministry for Crimean Affairs (dissolved)
Oleg Savelyev
Aleksandr Galushka
31 March 2014
31 March 2014 – 15 July 2015
Minister of Sport
Vitaly Mutko
Pavel Kolobkov
12 May 2008 – 19 October 2016
19 October 2016 – 7 May 2018
Minister for Construction and Housing
Mikhail Men
1 November 2013 – 7 May 2018
Minister of Regional Development (dissolved)
Oleg Govorun
Igor Slyunyayev
21 May 2012 – 17 October 2012
17 October 2012 – 8 September 2014

References
  1. Sputnik. "Sputnik International - Breaking News & Analysis - Radio, Photos, Videos, Infographics". english.ruvr.ru. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  2. "Медведев уступил предшественникам". Газета.Ru. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  3. Heritage, Timothy. "Putin ousts former grey cardinal, blow to Medvedev". U.K. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  4. "Правительство России ушло в отставку". РБК. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  5. "Президент поручил Правительству продолжать работу до сформирования нового кабинета министров". Kremlin.ru. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  6. Владимир Путин назвал состав нового кабинета, retrieved 7 May 2018
  7. Russian government approved, only quarter of ministers stay, Russia Today
  8. Government Structure – Russian report
  9. Putin dominates new Russian government,
  10. Welcome to the jungle: Putin approves new government amid ‘tough times’, Russia Today, 21 May 2012.
  11. New government elite – 7 deputy PMs, RT, 21 May 2012.
  12. Russian sorce
  13. Медведев намерен решать вопросы вместе с вице-премьерами "в оперативном ключеМедведев намерен решать вопросы вместе с вице-премьерами "в оперативном ключе: Medvedev is ready to manage special session with his deputies, Vesti.Ru
  14. Sputnik. "Medvedev Bemoans Fear of 'Incomprehensible,' 'Unpredictable' Russia". en.rian.ru. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  15. "Cabinet Under Fire After Putin Threatens Reshuffle". Moscow Times. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  16. "Cabinet will fulfil all social obligations - Medvedev". ITAR TASS. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  17. Reiter, Svetlana; Soldatkin, Vladimir (15 November 2016). "Russian Economy Minister Ulyukayev detained over bribe". Reuters.
  18. "Russian Economy Minister Ulyukayev charged with $2m bribe". BBC News. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  19. Улюкаев уволен с должности министра экономического развития РФ в связи с утратой доверия (in Russian). Business Online. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
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