PUTIN APPOINTS NEW MEN TO INTERIOR MINISTRY TROOPS COMMAND

MOSCOW, January 18 (AVN) - President Vladimir Putin has appointed Lieutenant-General Nikolai Garidov first deputy commander of the Interior Ministry troops, a ministry spokesman told the Military News Agency on Thursday.

Putin also appointed Lieutenant-General Nikolai Rogozhkin the troops' deputy commander and head of the combat training department, and Lieutenant-General Alexander Budnikov the troops' first deputy chief-of-staff, the spokesman said.

The presidential degree authorising the appointments was signed on Monday.