22.10 Confusion Over Reports Russia's Top Doctor Will Step Down
MOSCOW, October 22 (RIA Novosti) A top Russian official may have spoken too soon on Tuesday when she said that Gennady Onishchenko, Russias chief health official who is known for his colorful medical advice, would soon step down when his term expires.
Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets told journalists that Onishchenko would be replaced as head of Russias health inspections agency by his current deputy, Anna Popova, whom she called a qualified doctor and a good specialist.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedevs press secretary, however, quickly refuted the announcement, saying that though the head doctors term of office is indeed due to end soon, the decision on whether or not he will be reappointed has not yet been made.
The order for Onishchenkos retirement hasnt been signed. There is no such document, Natalya Timakova said.
Medvedev himself will be responsible for deciding whether Onishchenko will leave his post as head of Russias Federal Consumer Rights Service, she added.
Russian officials reacted to the announcement of Onishchenkos departure with surprise and dismay, with Vladimir Zhirinovsky the flamboyant leader of Russias nationalist LDPR party declaring that there has never been a better sanitation doctor in the history of Russia.
Onishchenko, who celebrated his 63rd birthday on Monday, has famously bombarded Russians with memorable health tips since he became head of Russia's federal health inspection agency in 2004.
He once blamed alcohol-related car crashes on kefir, a popular fermented milk drink, warning Russians not to drink kefir and drive. Onishchenko also advised Muscovites to go to work early in order to escape a summer heat wave, saying he himself went to work at 2:45 a.m.
More seriously, Onishchenko has also been responsible for a series of bans on food products - like Georgian mineral water and wine, Belarusian dairy products and Ukrainian chocolate - from foreign countries that frequently coincide with political spats between them and Russia.
