The government press service announced Andrei Belyaninov's appointment a day after President Vladimir Putin placed customs under the direct control of Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, explained as necessary to tackle graft and administrative chaos.
Belyaninov, like Putin, served in the KGB's foreign arm in East Germany during the Soviet era.
Until now, the customs service had been under the control of Economy Minister German Gref, a liberal who has been engaged in a battle of wills with Fradkov over economic policy. The prime minister favours greater state control of the economy.
Putin's decree followed several widely-publicised arrests of customs officials. Earlier, the Kremlin leader criticised the government for allowing what he described as the "privatisation of customs". ...
Since 1991, Belyaninov has headed the Rosoboronexport weapons monopoly and the Federal Arms Procurement Agency.
He replaces Alexander Zherikov. The government press service said Zherikov was moving to a new job, without elaborating.
That doesn't sound good.
Its like Tony Sapranos family playing musical chairs.