Major Political Change At The Top In Russia

Vladislav Surkov during a press conference in Moscow in 2006. James Hill for The New York Times

Architect of Putin’s System of Politics Is Reassigned -- New York Times

MOSCOW — The Kremlin on Tuesday announced the reassignment of Vladislav Y. Surkov, the “gray cardinal” who has overseen Russia’s domestic political scene for more than a decade. The reassignment, made in the midst of a new protest movement against Vladimir V. Putin, Russia’s paramount leader, suggested that Mr. Putin is prepared to make changes in the tightly controlled system that emerged during his first and second presidential terms.

Mr. Surkov, the deputy head of the president’s administration, is considered the architect of the system under Mr. Putin and his protégé and successor as president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, which Mr. Surkov christened “sovereign democracy.” He will now oversee modernization and innovation as a deputy prime minister, but will take no role in domestic politics.

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More News On The Reassignment Of Vladislav Y. Surkov

Medvedev appoints Kremlin strategist Surkov deputy PM -- RIA Novosti
Medvedev Removes Political Strategist in Pre-Election Shuffle -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Kremlin spin-doctor pays price for protests -- Financial Times
Medvedev Names Political Strategist Surkov to Modernization Post -- Bloomberg
Kremlin political strategist Vladislav Surkov named deputy PM -- Vancouver Sun/AFP
Surkov leaves politics, enters government -- RT

My Comment: This is big political news in Russia. Most outside of Russia do not know Vladislav Y. Surkov, but in Russia he has always been viewed as Putin`s right hand man. His departure signifies that Putin and his party know that they are in trouble politically, and they are now looking for an alternative policy that would placate the opposition .... but more importantly .... those who are looking for a sign that Putin is going to change.

For more info on Vladislav Surkov, check my post on him over here.