Kremlin refuses to comment on reported dismissal of General Popov

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that the Kremlin does not consider the situation with the resignation of Major-General Ivan Popov, commander of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District, to be an issue on its agenda.

He recommended contacting the Defence Ministry for comment, Kommersant reported.

"We are not commenting. After all, we are talking about the military, about the Ministry of Defence, so we recommend going there for comments," Peskov said during the conf-call. "We do not consider this to be an issue on our agenda," he added.

Head of the State Duma Defence Committee Andrei Kartapolov (United Russia) reacted to Major-General Ivan Popov, commander of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District, who said he would be suspended from service after reporting on problems in the army. The deputy believes that his words were heard and that measures will be taken.

Ivan Popov's suspension became known on July 12 when his audio message was published by State Duma deputy and former deputy commander of the Southern Military District Andrei Gurulev (United Russia).