Gennady Suchkov, Commander of the Russian Northern Fleet, has been suspended from office, said Russian Navy Chief Commander Vladimir Kuroyedov. When addressing a news conference in Moscow Thursday, the naval chief commander said that Vice-Admiral Sergei Simonenko had been appointed acting Commander of the Northern Fleet. He was in command of the operation to rescue the K-159 submarine. The Kremlin press office has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin signed a decree suspending Vice-Admiral Suchkov from office on Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov’s initiative. Vice-Admiral Suchkov is expected to hand over his authority to the acting commander in the next few days. He will be suspended before the investigation into the K-159 incident is through, said Admiral Kuroyedov. The K-159 sub sank in the early hours of Saturday, August 30, while being towed for disposal. Only one of the ten men on board survived.
Big guy takes the fall, I’m suprised. |