A new post of Russian Federation minister whose brief will include religious and social organisations was announced, among other government restructuring decisions, by Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov on 16 October, according to the Russian daily newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta. The new minister will also be responsible for nationalities and regional affairs. Speaking to Keston News Service in recent days, however, government officials expressed doubt that the post would do more than touch upon religious issues, let alone prove to be in place of the much called-for state committee for religious affairs.
(Keston Institute: http://www.keston.org/