Russia's Putin sacks chief of staff Sergei Ivanov

Mr Ivanov has been the chief of staff for five years

Russian President Vladimir Putin has unexpectedly dismissed his chief of staff Sergei Ivanov.

Mr Ivanov has been part of Mr Putin's trusted inner circle for many years. The 63-year-old has now been made a special representative for environmental and transport issues.

President Putin (C) met Anton Vaino (R) on Friday morning, along with Sergei Ivanov (L)

A statement from the Kremlin said that Mr Putin had "decreed to relieve Ivanov of his duties as head of the Russian presidential administration", but gave no reason.


Mr Ivanov's deputy since 2012, Anton Vaino, has been appointed as his successor. Mr Vaino, 44, is a former diplomat.

Born in the Estonian capital Tallinn in 1972, he graduated from the prestigious Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) and served in the Tokyo embassy. Later he managed presidential protocol and government staff, the Kremlin website says (in Russian).

On being appointed, he told Mr Putin: "Thank you for your trust. I think the administration's most important task is to support your activity as head of state in terms of drafting laws and control over how your instructions are implemented."

Mr Putin told a Russian TV station on Friday that Mr Ivanov had asked to leave the post, and recommended that Mr Vaino should replace him.