MOSCOW, May 22 (AVN) - The press service of the Russian Defence Ministry has been transferred under supervision of the chief of the main educational work department, a ministry spokesman told the Military News Agency.
The transfer was effected on Saturday "in order to improve information backing of the Armed Forces," Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev said in his directive.
In the near future, the education work departments will propose amendments to the current legislation regulating the work of the press service and carry out corresponding staff activities, the spokesman said.
The move effectively means serious demotion of the press service, a high-ranking official of the Defence Ministry told the Agency. As a result, the information on the Armed Forces reform, the anti-guerrilla operation in the North Caucasus and the real situation in the army will be even more limited, because it will be controlled by more officials, he claimed.