Undoubtedly, the information that appeared earlier in Russian newspapers that the former head of the Ministry of Defense Serdyukov is a Hero of Russia shocked many. How could an official who was accused of negligence and misuse of public money be awarded such a high award? Until now, attempts have not ceased to unravel the secret of why Anatoly Eduardovich did not suffer the deserved punishment for the corruption scandal in which he was a participant. And all the more shrouded in a halo of mystery is the fact that Serdyukov is a Hero of Russia. Is it really true? Let's take a closer look at this issue.
Initiative of the President or not?
Sharks of the pen, thoroughly studying the question of why Serdyukov was awarded the title of Hero of Russia, reported that the official received the award at a time when President Dmitry Medvedev was soon to step down. According to journalists, it happened in March 2012.
Then the above-mentioned state award was received by ex-chief of the General Staff Nikolai Makarov.
For what merit
Many were interested in the question of why Serdyukov suddenly received the title of Hero of Russia. mediamanaged to find out the reasons: they say, the ex-minister of defense was able to fully modernize and reform the country's armed forces. It should be noted that most of the innovations of Anatoly Eduardovich were subsequently canceled. But only small articles were published in the press stating that Nikolai Makarov was awarded the title of Hero of Russia.
At the same time, experts had no doubt that the mere fact of awarding the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff for the officers of the military department was not secret.
Secret
However, they tried not to advertise the fact that Serdyukov is a Hero of Russia anywhere.
“This document “On assignment”, which was signed by the then head of state, had the status of “confidential”. Makarov and Serdyukov received the award indoors, where journalists and members of the public were not invited. However, a certain part of the people in “epaulettes” knew that Anatoly Eduardovich had been awarded a high state award,”said the head of the Association of Reserve Officers Associations of the Armed Forces Megapir, Major General Vladimir Bogatyrev.
Veterans made a noise
The fact that Serdyukov is a Hero of Russia, first of all, was not liked by the participants of veteran societies.
They were the first to notice this. In particular, the head of the Union of Paratroopers, Valery Vostrotin, reacted to the situation in the following way: “I was completely at a loss, looking at how the head of the Russianstates, discredit the title of Hero of Russia, which is being handed out right and left today. Anatoly Serdyukov - Hero of Russia? Who would have thought!”
Way to mitigate liability?
Some experts tend to think that the aforementioned state award can help reduce the punishment for the ex-minister of the military department if he is found guilty of negligence and corruption. According to the current legislation, honorary titles are one of the extenuating circumstances in criminal cases.
Kremlin reaction
It should be emphasized that on the sidelines of the Kremlin they refute the fact that Serdyukov was awarded the Hero of Russia.
Representatives of the presidential administration hastened to say: "This information is not true." Medvedev's press secretary, Natalya Timakova, also said that Anatoly Serdyukov was not given a state award.
The reaction of the military department
Representatives of the Ministry of Defense adhered to the same position as in the Kremlin. At the same time, the military stated that “this cannot be by definition,” since the ex-minister’s “controversial” contribution to the reform of the Armed Forces is no longer a secret. But about Anatoly Eduardovich’s colleague Nikolai Makarov, people in “epaulettes” said that he really was awarded an award (Gold Star of a Hero) at the initiative of the president for his competent leadership of the troops during the Russian-Georgian conflict of 2008.
However, some media put forwardsuch a version of what is happening: they say, the rumor that Minister Serdyukov was awarded the title of Hero was launched specifically with the aim of "denigrating" him in the eyes of others. According to another point of view, the information about Anatoly Eduardovich's award was leaked by those who feared legal gaps, with the help of which the minister could count on an amnesty.
Does not consider truthful information that Serdyukov is a Hero of Russia and his lawyer Konstantin Rivkin.
As you know, the ex-minister of the military ministry in the fall of 2013 became a participant in a criminal case initiated by investigators on the fact of the improvement of the Zhitnoye recreation center. The financing of this project was carried out illegally: funds were spent from the state treasury. The owner of the sanatorium was the son-in-law of Anatoly Eduardovich - Valery Puzikov. At the end of 2013, the investigation of the incident came to an end, and Serdyukov began a detailed review of the case materials. Sharks of the pen vying with each other wrote that the former official may soon be amnestied in connection with the anniversary date: 20 years of the Russian Constitution.
Honorary Award
"Hero of Russia" belongs to the category of state awards, which are awarded to those who have services to the people and the state, and they are associated with the commission of a heroic deed. The person receives the Gold Star medal. Today, more than a thousand people in Russia own the state award, and half of them received it posthumously.
