Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on May 12 proposed firing Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and nominated Andrei Belousov to replace him, according to the Telegram channel of the Federation Council, the Russian parliament’s upper house. Russia’s defense minister is appointed by the president after consultations with the Federation Council. Shoigu has faced criticism from Russia’s pro-war hawks for mishandling the war effort in Ukraine. Belousov started his career as a protege of former Economy Minister German Gref, a free-market liberal, and served as a deputy economy minister in 2006-2008. Belou…