Defense Ministry terminates contract with Defense Procurement Agency head

According to a statement released on Jan. 24, the ministry is also recalling two government representatives from the agency's supervisory board.

According to Umerov, over the past six months, instead of adequately supplying the army with ammunition, the ministry was ensnared in "political games, contract leaks, information breaches, public relations stunts of inactivity, and non-fulfillment of KPIs [key performance indicators] by a subordinate enterprise [Defense Procurement Agency]."

“Weapon procurements, which should be classified in wartime, have somehow become like Amazon, where anyone online can see who is buying what, in what quantities, and from which manufacturers,” said Umerov.

“Our defenders on the front lines have not felt the scale of these procurements, which should have at least matched the media publicity.”

The minister noted that this will set a precedent in the history of corporate governance. 

“Two independent members of the supervisory board supported the state's position, while the state-appointed representative ignored the management body's recommendations,” he added.

He also announced the reorganization of the agency’s supervisory board "in the near future."

Arsen Zhumadilov will be appointed as the new director of the DPA.