The World - News from July 4, 1989
The Supreme Soviet reappointed Dmitri T. Yazov as defense minister despite some legislators’ objections that he is too old and conservative, the official Tass news agency said. Yazov, 65, whose rank is General of the Army, received the required majority of votes in the house. He was appointed defense minister in 1987, replacing Sergei Sokolov, who was fired after West German Mathias Rust evaded Soviet air defenses and landed his light aircraft in Red Square. The vote followed an endorsement from President Mikhail S. Gorbachev, who said Yazov “holds progressive views” and has made impressive contributions in restructuring the Soviet armed forces, Tass said.
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