The general in charge of Russia's ground forces has been fired, Russian news agencies said Monday. But President Boris Yeltsin's office said he had not signed a decree ordering the dismissal.
Gen. Vladimir Semyonov, who commanded ground troops in the war in Chechnya, was dismissed for unspecified actions "incompatible with his duty" news agencies reported.Semyonov told the Interfax news agency that Defense Minister Igor Rodionov informed him of the move against him. He said the reasons "remain unclear to me."
Russian journalists quoted Semyonov as saying Rodionov showed him a copy of his letter to Yeltsin recommending the dismissal, on which Yeltsin wrote "I agree."
Yeltsin's press service confirmed the letter's existence and said the president had "accepted the defense minister's proposal in principle" but never signed a corresponding decree.
A commission on top military appointments under the president will look into the matter, the press service said.
Semyonov, 56, was named head of ground troops after the failed Soviet coup in August 1991.
The last Russian troops began pulling out of Chechnya over the weekend, under terms of a peace agreement reached in August. The withdrawal is expected to be completed in late January.