Will Vladimir Putin reshuffle government positions for his fifth consecutive term, which will officially begin on May 7? This is the question that has agitated Moscow for several weeks, even though Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was placed in pre-trial detention on April 23, accused of having participated in a “criminal association with third parties” to receive “very large” bribes when carrying out contracts and subcontracting work for the needs of the Ministry of Defense.
According to four sources interviewed by Reuters last March, Vladimir Putin would indeed seek to appoint younger people to high government positions, but also to the head of large state companies, to replace an elite considered too old.
In addition to the current Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu, in office since 2012 – the record for longevity in this position – the current government includes many very “experienced” members: the Minister of Energy Nikolai Shulginov, 72 years old; Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev, 70; or even Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev, 68 years old. “At a time when Russia is waging a war against Ukraine and needs continuity, two of the sources said they did not expect Putin to change defense and foreign ministers.” , said the news agency.
A credible hypothesis
On May 2, the Russian media commented at length on the meeting between the Russian president and the governor of the Tula region, Alexander Dioumin. The latter, close to Putin as his bodyguard, played a key role in the annexation of Crimea ten years ago, supervising military operations as a member of Russia’s intelligence service (GRU). His name had also been pushed by all nationalists to take the post of Minister of Defense in June 2023, after Wagner’s failed mutiny and the notable absence of Sergei Shoigu from the radar screens for three days.
Another name often mentioned from the generation below: Vladimir Kirienko, the son of number 2 in the presidential administration, also president of Vkontakte, the “Russian Facebook” used by more than 85 million users. Speculation also revolves around Boris Kovalchuk, 46, son of powerful businessman and friend of Putin, Yuri Kovalchuk, after the daily Kommersant reported that he would soon have “greater responsibilities.” Until March 2024, the latter headed Inter RAO, a Russian public company responsible for the import-export of electricity in the country.
The hypothesis of a younger reshuffle is all the more credible as certain promotions have already been noticed. Like the formidable Apti Alaudinov, major general and commander of Chechen troops in Ukraine, appointed deputy head of the military-political work directorate at the Ministry of Defense in mid-April. This movement was seen as a new step in putting into orbit the favorite of power to succeed Ramzan Kadyrov, ruling the Chechen Republic since 2007.
Another example within the government: the Minister of Agriculture, Dmitri Patrushev, aged 46, son of Nikolai Patrushev, 72, secretary of the Russian Security Council. Putin’s presidential administration has also launched a series of programs intended to identify and train a new generation of senior leaders, which includes a “reserve list” of 100 candidates, in the event of the withdrawal of members of the “old generation”.