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| Putin Dismisses Chief of Staff in Surprise Move | Putin Dismisses Chief of Staff in Surprise Move |
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| MOSCOW — In a move that caught Kremlin-watchers by surprise on Friday, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia dismissed his chief of staff, Sergei B. Ivanov, a trusted aide for over four decades. | MOSCOW — In a move that caught Kremlin-watchers by surprise on Friday, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia dismissed his chief of staff, Sergei B. Ivanov, a trusted aide for over four decades. |
| Mr. Putin announced the decision during a meeting with Mr. Ivanov in the Kremlin. According to the meeting’s transcript, Mr. Ivanov left his post at his own initiative. | Mr. Putin announced the decision during a meeting with Mr. Ivanov in the Kremlin. According to the meeting’s transcript, Mr. Ivanov left his post at his own initiative. |
| “We worked together for many years, and we worked successfully,” Mr. Putin told Mr. Ivanov. “I remember well our agreement that you have asked me not to keep you in this job of the head of the presidential administration for longer than four years, so I understand your desire to move on.” | “We worked together for many years, and we worked successfully,” Mr. Putin told Mr. Ivanov. “I remember well our agreement that you have asked me not to keep you in this job of the head of the presidential administration for longer than four years, so I understand your desire to move on.” |
| Mr. Ivanov, who was replaced by his deputy, Anton E. Vaino, was appointed the presidential special representative for environment, ecology and transportation. | Mr. Ivanov, who was replaced by his deputy, Anton E. Vaino, was appointed the presidential special representative for environment, ecology and transportation. |
| “The presidential administration has existed for 25 years, and I was already its 11th head,” Mr. Ivanov, 63, said to Mr. Putin. “I was surprised to discover that I am the record-holder, working in this post for four years and eight months.” | “The presidential administration has existed for 25 years, and I was already its 11th head,” Mr. Ivanov, 63, said to Mr. Putin. “I was surprised to discover that I am the record-holder, working in this post for four years and eight months.” |
| Over the past several weeks, Mr. Putin has conducted a number of major reshuffles in the Russian government, replacing four regional governors and the head of the Customs Service, and dismissing the country’s ambassador to Ukraine. | Over the past several weeks, Mr. Putin has conducted a number of major reshuffles in the Russian government, replacing four regional governors and the head of the Customs Service, and dismissing the country’s ambassador to Ukraine. |
| Mr. Ivanov has known Mr. Putin since the 1970s, when they both started careers in the Soviet spy agency, the K.G.B. At one point, they even shared an office in a K.G.B. building in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg. | Mr. Ivanov has known Mr. Putin since the 1970s, when they both started careers in the Soviet spy agency, the K.G.B. At one point, they even shared an office in a K.G.B. building in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg. |
| Once Mr. Putin moved to Moscow and became the head of the Federal Security Service, or the F.S.B., in 1998, Mr. Ivanov became a member of his inner circle. After Mr. Putin ascended to the presidency, Mr. Ivanov held a variety of influential posts, including defense minister and deputy prime minister. | Once Mr. Putin moved to Moscow and became the head of the Federal Security Service, or the F.S.B., in 1998, Mr. Ivanov became a member of his inner circle. After Mr. Putin ascended to the presidency, Mr. Ivanov held a variety of influential posts, including defense minister and deputy prime minister. |
| Analysts often described Mr. Ivanov one of the leading members of the security-oriented, conservative camp of the Russian government. He was one of the top candidates to succeed Mr. Putin as president in 2008 but lost out in a bureaucratic battle to Dmitri A. Medvedev, now the prime minister. | Analysts often described Mr. Ivanov one of the leading members of the security-oriented, conservative camp of the Russian government. He was one of the top candidates to succeed Mr. Putin as president in 2008 but lost out in a bureaucratic battle to Dmitri A. Medvedev, now the prime minister. |
| A career diplomat, Mr. Vaino, 44, started in the Kremlin in 2003 in a post dealing with Mr. Putin’s ceremonial matters. He moved steadily through the ranks, in 2012 becoming deputy head of the presidential administration, responsible for protocol and public relations. | |
| Mr. Vaino’s grandfather, Karl G. Vaino, was the first secretary of the Communist Party of Estonia from 1978 to 1988. | Mr. Vaino’s grandfather, Karl G. Vaino, was the first secretary of the Communist Party of Estonia from 1978 to 1988. |