Russia's Medvedev keeps Putin aides in Kremlin

MOSCOW (Reuters) Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday appointed a close aide to former president Vladimir Putin, Vladislav Surkov, as the Kremlin's first deputy chief of staff, Interfax news agency reported.

Putin's former press secretary Alexei Gromov will be a deputy chief of staff, Interfax said, ensuring some of Putin's closest allies remain in the Kremlin after he moves to the post of prime minister.

(Writing by James Kilner)