Russian government daily Rossiiskaya Gazeta denied on Monday media reports about the resignation of the chief of Russia’s military intelligence (GRU), Col. Gen. Alexander Shlyakhturov.
The Kommersant business daily said in an unattributed report on Saturday that Shlyakhturov, 64, had resigned from his post.
Rossiiskaya Gazeta quoted an unidentified source as saying Shlyakhturov continues working for the GRU and has not handed over his duties to anyone.
Contacted by RIA Novosti, the Defense Ministry declined immediate comment.
Shlyakhturov has led the GRU since April 2009. Little is known publicly about General Shlyakhturov's biography and service record. Such tight secrecy implies that he is a career intelligence operative.
In its report, Kommersant said Shlyakhturov would in the near future head the board of directors of the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering (MIT), the developer of the Bulava ballistic missile and other strategic missile systems. Kommersant’s source in the General Staff said earlier that Shlyakhturov has the confidence of Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.
