…OR THE FIRINGS OF THE TAX CHIEF AND A DEPUTY KREMLIN ADMINISTRATION HEAD.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Yakushkin also said today that the Kremlin had “no documents” concerning the firings of Tax Minister Aleksandr Pochinok or deputy Kremlin administration chief Sergei Zverev, which were widely reported yesterday as a fait accompli (Russian agencies, July 30). Various observers attributed Zverev’s as-yet-unconfirmed firing to the fact that he is closely linked to Media Most founder Vladimir Gusinsky, who is currently in high-profile dispute with both Kremlin administration chief Aleksandr Voloshin and Russian Public Television, which is widely thought to be under Boris Berezovsky’s control. Zverev, a public relations specialist, is credited with organizing the Kremlin’s defense against the State Duma’s impeachment attempt earlier this year (Vremya-MN, July 30).

And while the reasons for the report that tax chief Aleksandr Pochinok was being removed are unclear, and the report itself has not been confirmed, Pochinok was quoted today as saying the report was not a surprise to him and that he will explain everything when and if his firing becomes official (Vremya-MN, July 30).

SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS LOWER COURT DECISION VALIDATING KARACHAEVO-CHERKESSIA VOTE.