MOSCOW. July 7 (Interfax) - Russian Aerospace Forces Commander Viktor Bondarev will retire in the near future to become a member of the Federation Council after regional elections in September, two sources familiar with the situation confirmed to Interfax.
"Viktor Bondarev will retire as Aerospace Forces commander and will receive a senator's mandate after the elections to regional government bodies in September," one of the sources said.
"The upper house will endorse Viktor Bondarev's appointment as head of the Federation Council's defense and security committee at one of its first sessions in the fall," he said.
It had been reported on Thursday that Viktor Ozerov had stepped down as head of the Federation Council defense and security committee. "However, he will keep working at the Federation Council for another two years and will remain a defense committee member for the time being," a source told Interfax.
"There is no conflict between Ozerov and the defense minister, contrary to what some media reported. Viktor Ozerov is one of the most authoritative senators and he will be willing to share his experience with the new head of the committee and will support and help him," he said.