Russian economist and politician (born 1959)
Andrey Removich Belousov (Russian: , ; born 17 March 1959) is a Russian politician and economist, serving as the Minister of Defence since May 2024. From January 2020 to May 2024, he served as First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia. Previously, he was an Aide to the President of Russia and Minister of Economic Development.
Belousov has the federal state civilian service rank of 1st class Active State Councillor of the Russian Federation.
Early life.
Belousov was born in Moscow on 17 March 1959. His mother was a chemist and his father was an economist who worked in the State Planning Committee. Belousov went to the prestigious secondary school focused on mathematics and physics (now known as Lyceum named after V.F. Ovchinnikov).
His younger brother Dmitry (born in 1972) is an economist who works as director of the Analysis and Forecasting of Macroeconomic Processes Laboratory of the Institute of Economic Forecasting of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Education.
Belousov studied economics at the Faculty of Economics of the Moscow State University which he graduated from with honors with a major in economic cybernetics in 1981.
In 1986, he defended his thesis on the topic "Simulation approach to modeling interrelated processes of formation and use of circulating capital" at the Central Economic Mathematical Institute and became a candidate of economic sciences.
In 2006, Belousov defended his thesis on the topic "Contradictions and prospects for the development of the system of the reproduction of the Russian economy" at the Institute of Economic Forecasting of the Russian Academy of Sciences and became a doctor of economic sciences.
Career.
Academic career.
From 1981 to 1986, Belousov was probationer-researcher and then junior researcher in the simulation laboratory of human-machine systems of the Central Economic Mathematical Institute. From 1991 to 2006, he was head of a laboratory of the Institute of Economic Forecasting of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He was external advisor to the prime minister from 2000 to 2006.
Ministry of Economic Development (2006–2013).
Belousov served as deputy minister of economic development and trade for two years from 2006 to 2008.
From 2008 to 2012, he was director of the finances and economic department in the Russian Prime Minister's office.
On 21 May 2012, he was appointed minister of economic development to the cabinet led by prime minister Dmitry Medvedev. Belousov succeeded Elvira Nabiullina as minister of economic development.
He is considered a Keynesian economist who believed in state intervention in the economy.
Presidential Administration (2013–2020).
On 24 June 2013, he was appointed as Putin's Presidential Aide in Economic Affairs.
Belousov was Putin's only economic adviser who supported the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. He believed Russia was "encircled by enemies". 
First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia (2020–2024).
On 21 January 2020, Belousov was appointed as First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia in Mikhail Mishustin's Cabinet. From 30 April to 19 May 2020, Belousov was appointed by Vladimir Putin as Acting Prime Minister of Russia, temporarily replacing Mikhail Mishustin, after the latter was diagnosed with coronavirus. According to Politico, he is one possible successor to Putin.
Minister of Defence (2024–).
On 12 May 2024, President Putin appointed Belousov Minister of Defense, replacing Sergei Shoigu, effective 14 May 2024.
Jimmy Rushton, a Kyiv-based security analyst, said on X, formerly Twitter, that Shoigu's replacement with Belousov signals that Putin believes he will win "via outproducing (and outlasting) Ukraine" and is "preparing for many more years of war". Alexandra Prokopenko, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said that Putin sees the war in Ukraine as a war of attrition and Belousov is supposed to help transform Russia's heavily militarised economy into a war economy. As of 2024, military spending accounts for about 30% of Russia's budget.
On 14 October 2024, he arrived in Beijing, China. Belousov and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun called for the two sides to "deepen strategic collaboration" and "continuously advance military relations." On 10 December 2024, Belousov held talks with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Singh reaffirmed India's commitment to strengthening defence ties with Russia. 
On 16 December 2024, Belousov said at a joint meeting with Putin that Russia should prepare for multiple scenarios, including a war with NATO, in the next decade. He also said that Russia aims to achieve victory in the war against Ukraine and fully conquer Ukraine's Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions by 2025. Belousov claimed that Ukraine lost "almost 1 million people" during the war with Russia.
Sanctions.
In relation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Belousov is under sanctions of Ukraine, the European Union, the United States, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
Private life.
Belousov was married twice. He is fond of history of painting. He is orthodox believer and regularly attends church. In his youth, he practiced karate and sambo, nowadays he is engaged in athletics.
His son Pavel graduated from the Bauman Moscow State Technical University.
References.
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