Defense Ministry Civilians to be Cut by Third

source LeFigaro.fr

MOSCOW, May 24 (RIA Novosti)

Russia's Defense Ministry plans to cut the number of its civilian personnel by a third

Russia's Defense Ministry plans to cut the number of its civilian personnel by a third, a ministry source said on Thursday.

"Following orders from [Defense Minister] Anatoly Serdyukov, a draft decree has been drawn up to cut the ministry's civil personnel numbers by as much as 30 percent," the source, who spoke on condition on anonymity, told RIA Novosti. "Most of the layoffs will come this year."

There are 886,000 workplaces designated for civilian employees at the ministry, with at least 15 percent of those vacant, the source said.

Some of those who are to lose their jobs will be moved to other organizations affiliated with the ministry, he added.

Military personnel have also been faced with marching orders after Russia's military numbers shrank to 1 million this year.