You're reading: Pyotr Stepanov becomes head of Transdniestrian Cabinet

The Supreme Soviet of self-proclaimed Transdniestria on Wednesday approved Pyotr Stepanov as the new prime minister of the breakaway republic. He had been nominated by President Yevgeny Shevchuk.

On Monday the majority faction of Renewal party unanimously supported Stepanov’s candidacy.

Stepanov, born on Jan. 2, 1959 in the village of Sankino, in the autonomous republic of Chuvashia, in 1982 graduated from the Bauman Technical College in Moscow. In 1982-1991 he worked in the Soviet gas industry, and later in Transdniestrian gas industry.

In 1996-2005 he was the general director of Tiraspoltransgaz corporation. Since January 2007 and to this day he was the industry minister of Transdniestria.

Under Transdniestrian law in a week’s time the prime minister is to submit to the president his proposals concerning the structure and members of the Cabinet, with the exception of the ministers of foreign affairs, defense, security and interior and the head of the customs service. Out of the members of the old Cabinet Vadim Krasnoselsky, the acting Interior Minister, may join the new government.