Moscow - The Russian Prime Minister, Mr Yevgeny Primakov, appointed two more centrist ministers yesterday in a further sign that his new cabinet will choose pragmatism over radical reform as it faces the nation's economic crisis. Mr Vladimir Ryzhkov (32) and Mr Vladimir Bulgak (57) join Mr Alexander Shokhin, already appointed, as deputy prime ministers.
Mr Ryzhkov will handle social affairs and Mr Bulgak will have the industry and communications portfolio. Mr Shokhin has responsibility for finance.
The three deputy premiers, who were appointed by presidential decree, all come from the centrist Our Home Is Russia group of Mr Viktor Chernomyrdin, the Kremlin's initial choice for prime minister.