This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/08/vladimir-putin-cardinal-forced-government

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Vladimir Putin's former 'cardinal' forced out of government Vladimir Putin's former 'cardinal' forced out of government
(35 minutes later)
The mysterious Russian politician credited with building Vladimir Putin's particular brand of governance – masking tight control with pseudo-democratic institutions – has been forced out of government after publicly arguing with the country's increasingly powerful political police.The mysterious Russian politician credited with building Vladimir Putin's particular brand of governance – masking tight control with pseudo-democratic institutions – has been forced out of government after publicly arguing with the country's increasingly powerful political police.
Vladislav Surkov was referred to as the Kremlin's "grey cardinal" during his time as deputy chief of staff during Putin's first two terms as president. He was considered one of Russia's most deft politicians, crafting Russia's system of "managed democracy" and steering its powerful propaganda machine, mainly via control over state-run television. Vladislav Surkov was referred to as the Kremlin's "grey cardinal" during his time as deputy chief of staff during Putin's first two terms as president. He was considered one of Russia's most deft politicians, crafting Russia's system of "managed democracy" and steering its powerful propaganda machine, mainly via control of state-run television.
Yet his star had been steadily falling since Putin returned to the presidency last year, choosing a path of open repression over the cunning manipulation favoured by Surkov. Yet his star has been steadily falling since Putin returned to the presidency last year and pursued a path of open repression over the cunning manipulation favoured by Surkov.
Whether he quit or was fired remains a mystery, although insiders pointed to the latter. Surkov had been demoted from Kremlin insider to a deputy prime minister tasked with overseeing innovation after Putin's return to the presidency in May. He was believed to have favoured seeing Dmitry Medvedev, now prime minister, stay on for a second term. Putin's decision to run again prompted mass protests in the streets of Moscow. Whether he quit or was fired remains a mystery, although insiders suggest the latter. Surkov was demoted from Kremlin insider to a deputy prime minister tasked with overseeing innovation after Putin's return to the presidency in May. He was believed to have wanted to see Dmitry Medvedev, now prime minister, stay on for a second term. Putin's decision to run again prompted mass protests in the streets of Moscow.
The Kremlin released a statement saying Putin had signed Surkov's resignation letter on Wednesday. Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Surkov had asked to resign on Tuesday, following a stormy meeting in which Putin criticised the poor work of Medvedev's cabinet. Surkov, speaking to the newspaper Kommersant, said he had tendered his resignation as far back as 28 April.The Kremlin released a statement saying Putin had signed Surkov's resignation letter on Wednesday. Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Surkov had asked to resign on Tuesday, following a stormy meeting in which Putin criticised the poor work of Medvedev's cabinet. Surkov, speaking to the newspaper Kommersant, said he had tendered his resignation as far back as 28 April.
The news came one day after Izvestia, a newspaper loyal to the Kremlin, ran a column by Vladimir Markin, spokesman of the Investigative Committee, a body that answers only to Putin and has led a widespread manhunt against the Kremlin's perceived enemies, including opposition activists. Markin attacked Surkov for criticising the Investigative Committee during a recent talk at the London School of Economics. Speaking to students and guests in London last week, Surkov criticised the body for launching a corruption investigation into Skolkovo, a government project promoted by tech-savvy Medvedev to build a Russian equivalent to Silicon Valley outside Moscow. The investigation has been seen as a blow to Medvedev amid increasing rumours that Putin may try to force out the emasculated prime minister. The news came one day after Izvestia, a newspaper loyal to the Kremlin, ran a column by Vladimir Markin, spokesman of the Investigative Committee, a body that answers only to Putin and has led a widespread probe into the Kremlin's perceived enemies, including opposition activists.
In the column, Markin wrote: "Times are changing, and, with them, the excuses and mantra of effective managers. Now, in the absence of results for big projects, the Investigative Committee will always be to blame." Without referring to Surkov by name, he implied that he had grabbed on to a "new fad" of blaming state repression of the opposition for the country's ills: "These days it's fashionable to be a political prisoner, you can count on the attention of the BBC and the support of Amnesty International right away." Markin attacked Surkov for criticising the Investigative Committee during a recent talk at the London School of Economics. Speaking to students and guests in London last week, Surkov criticised the committee for launching a corruption investigation into Skolkovo – a government project promoted by the tech-savvy Medvedev to build a Russian equivalent to Silicon Valley outside Moscow. The investigation has been seen as a blow to Medvedev amid increasing rumours that Putin may try to force out the emasculated prime minister.
The investigative committee, rather than the general prosecutor's office, has led investigations into opposition leaders such as the corruption activist Alexey Navalny, as well as less publicly known protesters who now face charges of orchestrating mass unrest. In the column, Markin wrote: "Times are changing, and, with them, the excuses and mantra of effective managers. Now, in the absence of results for big projects, the Investigative Committee will always be to blame." Without referring to Surkov by name, he implied that he had seized the "new fad" of blaming state repression of the opposition for the country's ills: "These days it's fashionable to be a political prisoner, you can count on the attention of the BBC and the support of Amnesty International right away."
The Investigative Committee, rather than the general prosecutor's office, has led investigations into opposition leaders such as the corruption activist Alexey Navalny, as well as less publicly known protesters who now face charges of orchestrating mass unrest.
Speaking to Russian media on Tuesday, Surkov declined to comment on Markin's article, saying: "I don't comment on verbal diarrhoea."Speaking to Russian media on Tuesday, Surkov declined to comment on Markin's article, saying: "I don't comment on verbal diarrhoea."
Peskov insisted Surkov's spat with Markin did not influence Putin's decision to let Surkov go. "This story is in no way linked with his departure, unequivocally. Or with Skolkovo."Peskov insisted Surkov's spat with Markin did not influence Putin's decision to let Surkov go. "This story is in no way linked with his departure, unequivocally. Or with Skolkovo."
Surkov's departure was widely seen as a win for the increasingly powerful investigative committee and hardliners inside Russia as well as a blow against relative liberals such as Medvedev, who continues to battle rumours of impending departure. Surkov's departure was widely seen as a victory for the increasingly powerful Investigative Committee and hardliners inside Russia, as well as a blow against relative liberals such as Medvedev, who continues to battle rumours of impending departure.
"The Kremlin's decision to fire Surkov just confirms my words: we've been living without a government for a year," wrote Mikhail Prokhorov, an oligarch who has attempted to fashion himself as an opposition politician while maintaining Kremlin approval, on his blog. "Putin will now have to fire minister after minister, but that won't help. As the fired deputy prime minister said in London: the fish rots from the head. It's time to throw out our 'fish'." Prokhorov later deleted the post."The Kremlin's decision to fire Surkov just confirms my words: we've been living without a government for a year," wrote Mikhail Prokhorov, an oligarch who has attempted to fashion himself as an opposition politician while maintaining Kremlin approval, on his blog. "Putin will now have to fire minister after minister, but that won't help. As the fired deputy prime minister said in London: the fish rots from the head. It's time to throw out our 'fish'." Prokhorov later deleted the post.
Once the ultimate target of ire for those opposed to Putin's regime, some had almost begun to pine for the days when Surkov curated domestic politics in the country after a year-long crackdown that human rights groups have called the "worst since the post-Soviet era". Yet Surkov's creations – including pro-Kremlin youth groups and state-run television channels that function more as propaganda – remain a hallmark of Putin's government. Surkov was once the ultimate target of anger for those opposed to Putin's regime,. Now, some have almost begun to pine for the days when he curated Russian domestic politics, after a year-long crackdown that human rights groups have called the "worst since the post-Soviet era". Yet Surkov's creations – including pro-Kremlin youth groups and state-run television channels that function more as propaganda outlets – remain a hallmark of Putin's government.
Surkov, 48, was one of the most colourful politicians in Russia, even while he kept a low profile. In the 1990s he worked with Mikhail Khodorkovsky, then Russia's richest man and now Russia's most famous political prisoner. Even after joining the Kremlin, he wrote rock lyrics and plays under a pseudonym. He was known to be a fan of the rapper Tupac Shakur and once recorded a reading of Allen Ginsberg's beatnik masterpiece Howl. Surkov, 48, was one of the most colourful politicians in Russia even while he kept a low profile. In the 1990s he worked with Mikhail Khodorkovsky, then Russia's richest man and now Russia's most famous political prisoner. Even after joining the Kremlin, he wrote rock lyrics and plays under a pseudonym. He was known to be a fan of the rapper Tupac Shakur and once recorded a reading of Allen Ginsberg's beatnik masterpiece Howl.
There was much speculation in Russia as to what Surkov, once one of Russia's most powerful politicians, would do next. Speaking to the magazine Russian Pioneer, where he sometimes wrote a column, Surkov on Wednesday said: "There are some plans – a political comedy based on real news is ripening." There was much speculation in Russia as to what Surkov might do next. Speaking to the magazine Russian Pioneer, in which he sometimes wrote a column, Surkov said on Wednesday: "There are some plans – a political comedy based on real news is ripening."
He has so far declined to explain his departure after more than a decade inside Russia's halls of power. "I'll talk about that later," he told Kommersant. "When it will be appropriate."He has so far declined to explain his departure after more than a decade inside Russia's halls of power. "I'll talk about that later," he told Kommersant. "When it will be appropriate."
guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8amguardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am