Igor Rodionov
Encyclopedia
Igor Nikolayevich Rodionov (born 1936) is a Russia
n general and Duma
deputy. He is best known as a hardline politician, and for his service heading the Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation.
Rodionov served as a Soviet military officer in Germany
, Czechoslovakia
, the Russian Far East
and several other areas around the world. Then-Major Rodionov commanded a motorized rifle regiment in the famed 24th Motorized Rifle Division
(the "Iron Division") in the Carpathian Military District
from 1970–1973, and later commandered the 17th Motor Rifle Division in the same District. He commanded the 5th Army in the Far East Military District from 1983–85 and then the key 40th Army
in Afghanistan
in 1985-1986. He held the post of First Deputy Chief Commander of the Moscow Military District
from 1986 until 1988, when Colonel General Rodionov was appointed Commander of the Transcaucasus Military District.
In April 1989 he was responsible for the violent massacre during the April 9 protests
in Tbilisi
and removed from his post. From 1989 to 1996, he served as a People’s Deputy and as the head of the General Staff Academy.
In the leadup to the 1996 presidential election, Russian President Boris Yeltsin
dismissed Defence Minister Pavel Grachev
and replaced him with Rodionov. Rodionov had had many military doctrinal articles published, and coming from command of the General Staff Academy had a background in analysis which Grachev lacked. During Rodionov's term the major factors obstructing Armed Forces reform were mainly political.
Rodionov did have ideas for reforming the armed forces, but thought that the general outlook of the Cold War ought to remain; Russia
had been and would continue to be an adversary of the West, and the threat perception and budget levels should be designed on that basis. Over the course of his tenure as Defence Minister
, he changed his mind over whether the Armed Forces should be restructured to Russia's new circumstances, or whether Russia should continue, in the Soviet style, to place the military above social and economic needs. At the start of his term, he appeared to be convinced of fitting the Army to the state; eventually he was dismissed because he would not forswear fitting the state to the Army. His attitude was revealed in comments such as 'it is.. impermissible to solve society's.. problems at the cost of lowering the state's main attribute, the army'.
Rodionov was eventually dismissed for two reasons. First, he had refused to subordinate the Ministry to civilian control in the form of the short-lived Defence Council. Secondly, he had had a major dispute with Yuriy Baturin, of the Defence Council, over whether reform was possible within the budgetary resources the state had available. Rodionov insisted it was not, and much more money would have to be spent; Baturin argued that the military would have to make do with the then current spending levels, as increases were fiscally impossible. Neither man would give up his position, and reform was not being achieved, so Yeltsin solved the problem by firing Rodionov.
A Duma
member (Rodina faction) since 1999, Igor Rodionov is now a member of the Committee on National Security and Chairman of the Professional Union of Military Personnel.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n general and Duma
Duma
A Duma is any of various representative assemblies in modern Russia and Russian history. The State Duma in the Russian Empire and Russian Federation corresponds to the lower house of the parliament. Simply it is a form of Russian governmental institution, that was formed during the reign of the...
deputy. He is best known as a hardline politician, and for his service heading the Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation.
Rodionov served as a Soviet military officer in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, the Russian Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
and several other areas around the world. Then-Major Rodionov commanded a motorized rifle regiment in the famed 24th Motorized Rifle Division
24th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)
style="float: right; clear: right; background-color: transparent"| The 24th Samaro-Ulyanovsk Division was a rifle, then a motor-rifle division of the Red Army of the USSR...
(the "Iron Division") in the Carpathian Military District
Carpathian Military District
The Carpathian Military District was a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces from 1945 after the conclusion of the Second World War to 1990-91. It became part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 1991 and was disbanded by being redesignated the Western Operational Command later in the 1990s.Two...
from 1970–1973, and later commandered the 17th Motor Rifle Division in the same District. He commanded the 5th Army in the Far East Military District from 1983–85 and then the key 40th Army
40th Army (Soviet Union)
The 40th Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army was an army-level command active from 1941 to 1945 and then again from 1979 to circa 1990.It was first formed, after Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, had commenced, from elements of the 26th and 37th Armies under the command...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
in 1985-1986. He held the post of First Deputy Chief Commander of the Moscow Military District
Moscow Military District
The Moscow Military District was a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2010 it was merged with the Leningrad Military District, the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet to form the new Western Military District.-History:In the beginning of...
from 1986 until 1988, when Colonel General Rodionov was appointed Commander of the Transcaucasus Military District.
In April 1989 he was responsible for the violent massacre during the April 9 protests
April 9, 1989 Massacre
The April 9 tragedy refers to the events in Tbilisi, Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, on April 9, 1989, when an anti-Soviet demonstration was dispersed by the Soviet Army, resulting in 20 deaths and hundreds of injuries...
in Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
and removed from his post. From 1989 to 1996, he served as a People’s Deputy and as the head of the General Staff Academy.
In the leadup to the 1996 presidential election, Russian President Boris Yeltsin
Boris Yeltsin
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999.Originally a supporter of Mikhail Gorbachev, Yeltsin emerged under the perestroika reforms as one of Gorbachev's most powerful political opponents. On 29 May 1990 he was elected the chairman of...
dismissed Defence Minister Pavel Grachev
Pavel Grachev
Pavel Sergeyevich Grachev , sometimes transliterated as Grachov, is a retired Russian Army General and the former Defence Minister of the Russian Federation; in 1988 he was declared the Hero of the Soviet Union...
and replaced him with Rodionov. Rodionov had had many military doctrinal articles published, and coming from command of the General Staff Academy had a background in analysis which Grachev lacked. During Rodionov's term the major factors obstructing Armed Forces reform were mainly political.
Rodionov did have ideas for reforming the armed forces, but thought that the general outlook of the Cold War ought to remain; Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
had been and would continue to be an adversary of the West, and the threat perception and budget levels should be designed on that basis. Over the course of his tenure as Defence Minister
Defence minister
A defence minister is a person in a cabinet position in charge of a Ministry of Defence, which regulates the armed forces in some sovereign nations...
, he changed his mind over whether the Armed Forces should be restructured to Russia's new circumstances, or whether Russia should continue, in the Soviet style, to place the military above social and economic needs. At the start of his term, he appeared to be convinced of fitting the Army to the state; eventually he was dismissed because he would not forswear fitting the state to the Army. His attitude was revealed in comments such as 'it is.. impermissible to solve society's.. problems at the cost of lowering the state's main attribute, the army'.
Rodionov was eventually dismissed for two reasons. First, he had refused to subordinate the Ministry to civilian control in the form of the short-lived Defence Council. Secondly, he had had a major dispute with Yuriy Baturin, of the Defence Council, over whether reform was possible within the budgetary resources the state had available. Rodionov insisted it was not, and much more money would have to be spent; Baturin argued that the military would have to make do with the then current spending levels, as increases were fiscally impossible. Neither man would give up his position, and reform was not being achieved, so Yeltsin solved the problem by firing Rodionov.
A Duma
Duma
A Duma is any of various representative assemblies in modern Russia and Russian history. The State Duma in the Russian Empire and Russian Federation corresponds to the lower house of the parliament. Simply it is a form of Russian governmental institution, that was formed during the reign of the...
member (Rodina faction) since 1999, Igor Rodionov is now a member of the Committee on National Security and Chairman of the Professional Union of Military Personnel.
External links and References
- U.S. Army Foreign Military Studies OfficeForeign Military Studies OfficeThe Foreign Military Studies Office, or FMSO, is a research and analysis center for the United States Army that is part of the United States Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth. It manages the Joint Reserve Intelligence Center there.-Mission:...
, Rodionov: A Military Biography - Person Page at NUPI Centere for Russian Studies (note: NUPI says Rodionov commanded the Transbaikal Military DistrictTransbaikal Military DistrictThe Transbaikal Military District was a military district of first the Military of the Soviet Union and then the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, formed on May 17, 1935 and included the Buryat Republic, Chita Oblast, and Yakutia. Chita was the headquarters of the district...
in 85-86, but this is disapproved by Feskov et al.'s list of District commanders.) - Duma Deputy Biographies at US-Russian Business Council