Despite the growing role of mass politics amid the crisis, staff struggle has remained quite active and intensive. It is additionally influenced by the necessity to fight the crisis; this is it should be taken it into account when analyzing staff reshuffle and structural changes. In particular, a decree signed by Vladimir Putin shortly before the New Year stipulates simplification of procedure of agreeing documents worked out by the government as well as actual introduction of the principle of personal responsibility for failing to live up to terms of their development. However, this measure may substantially increase conflict potential on the level of deputy PMs.
Another vector of staff changes aimed at fighting the consequences of the crisis affects law enforcement agencies. Firstly, the president initiated amendments to the civil procedure code broadening authority of the Prosecutor General’s Office in social and economic disputes. On one side, this may minimize losses of citizens in disputes with employers; on the other side, this may partially offset losses of the Prosecutor General’s Office following reforms in the entity. Another direction of modernization of the law enforcement system is fine-tuning of power bodies. In particular, overtures made by authorities (firstly, by Dmitry Medvedev) to interior ministry officers are becoming more visible. It is quite possible that instead of the defense ministry, which was in the focus of attention following the five-day war, the head of state will shift his sympathy towards the police body.