Head of Russian Government Vladimir Putin promised to the Vice Premiers of Byelorussia and Kazakhstan that Russia’s Industry & Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko would deal with the issues relating to the Customs Union and would leave the Ministry, a few government officials informed Vedomosti.

According to these officials, Khristenko is already getting ready to hand his responsibilities over to the new minister and has been negotiating for a new agreement on the Customs Union Committee for a few months now. The official is expected to chair the Committee’s board.

Vedomosti’s informants said Khristenko could be succeeded by his deputies Andrei Dementyev or Denis Manturov. One of the interviewees thinks this could be someone else.