Alexei Miller reelected Gazprom CEO

From RIA Novosti:

Alexei Miller has been reelected as the chief executive of Gazprom for another five years, the Russian energy giant said in a news release Wednesday.

"The five-year contract will come into force on May 31, 2006," the release said.

A former deputy energy minister, Miller was first elected Gazprom CEO on April 30, 2001, replacing Rem Vyakhirev at the post.

One question floating around is whether Miller is just keeping the seat warm till Putin's term is up in March 2008.

Miller is Putin's man, and has been part of the effort to make Gazprom an instrument of Russian foreign policy.

Putin has said he did not want to be CEO of Gazprom when he leaves office.