Russia's Former Top Military Chief Dies After 'Long Illness'

Igor Puzanov, Russia's former secretary of state and first deputy minister of defense, has died at the age of 76.

Nikolai Deryabin, chief of staff of the Moscow-based Russian Military Leaders Club, told Russian news outlet RBC that Puzanov died on Sunday night at home, "after a serious long-term illness."

Puzanov was appointed secretary of state and first deputy minister of defense in March 2001, and held the position until October 2004, when he was appointed commander of the Leningrad Military District.

In December 2005, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Puzanov the rank of army general. Between 2007 to 2011, he was a State Duma deputy—Russia's lower parliament—and a member of the Defense Committee.

Puzanov also served on the commission for reviewing federal budget expenditures for defense and state security needs.

The president of Russian Military Leaders Club, Army General Anatoly Kulikov, expressed his condolences to Puzanov's family and friends in remarks to Russian media.

"Most likely, the general will be buried at the military memorial cemetery in Mytishchi, but, naturally, his relatives have the final say," chief of staff Deryabin told Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti.

Until recently, Puzanov worked in the Office of Inspectors General of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, according to state news agency Interfax.

The Kremlin has yet to comment on news of Puzanov's death. Newsweek has contacted Russia's Defense Ministry for comment via email.

Puzanov was born on January 31, 1947, in the city of Tyumen in the Siberia region.

He graduated from the Omsk Higher Combined Arms Command School, the Frunze Military Academy in Moscow, and the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, also located in the capital, according to Russian news outlets.

Puzanov was later appointed to the post of Chief of Army Staff in the Baltic Military District, and then commander of the North Caucasus Military District.

He also served in Afghanistan for three-and-a-half years as a regiment commander and deputy commander of the 201st Motorized Rifle Division.

On Sunday, the death of Adrian Puzanovsky, another former State Duma deputy, was reported.

Puzanovsky died at the age of 81, Sergei Neverov, vice-speaker of the lower house of parliament from the ruling United Russia party, said, adding that he was "bright" and "sympathetic" person.

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Update 10/23/23, 6:35 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.