Putin sacks deputy prime minister amid Skolkovo fund investigation

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday dismissed his influential deputy prime minister Vladislav Surkov, who is credited with helping to shape the country's tightly controlled political system.

His departure comes amid what observers describe as signs of growing infighting among Kremlin elites during Putin's controversial third term and an ongoing probe of a hi-tech fund backed by Surkov.

In a statement, the Kremlin said Surkov had left his post voluntarily.

Surkov declined immediate comment to reporters, but Kommersant FM radio, citing the former official, said he had tendered his resignation on April 26.

Putin's spokesman said Surkov's departure should not be seen as related to the investigation of technology fund Skolkovo. Instead, he suggested that the deputy prime minister had quit because of the government's poor implementation of Putin's election promises.

"Surkov has quit voluntarily … it is related to the priority topic and the high-priority task of implementing presidential decrees," Dmitry Peskov told the radio station.