Putin Dismisses Investigative Committee Spokesman

Spokesman for the Investigative Committee Vladimir Markin speaks at a presentation of his new book in Moscow on September 1.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has relieved Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin of his duties.

Putin's decree was made public on October 7. Markin said the same day that he will serve as the first deputy general director of the RusHydro energy holding.

Markin announced on September 21 that he had submitted his resignation letter to Investigative Committee chief Aleksandr Bastrykin.

Markin, 59, who served as the committee's spokesman since 2007, said then that he made the decision voluntarily. Markin's announcement came amid media reports saying that Bastrykin may also resign soon.

On September 23, media reported that Moscow police chief Anatoly Yakunin had also submitted his resignation.

Media reports said in September that Russian authorities are planning to fully revamp law enforcement structures by the 2018 presidential election.

Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax