Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India, sparking discussions about his security and work style. It's said that Putin is surrounded by a select group of individuals who form a circle known as 'Siloviki'. Let's explore who these elite 'Siloviki' members are and why they garner attention.
The members of Siloviki are considered close to Putin. This group includes his friends, key security officials, and advisors. The term 'Siloviki' refers to senior-ranking officers from organizations like the KGB, who stay close to Putin and advise on his crucial decisions.
Siloviki Dominate Security Issues
According to a report by The Guardian, political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya suggests that Putin's close elite group is divided into two: technocrats who dominate government affairs but have no say in security matters, and Siloviki, who dominate every agenda, especially concerning Putin and the nation's security.
Responsible for Ukraine Conflict
Siloviki often face accusations that they are behind Putin's policies regarding Ukraine and other European nations. Their influence has grown over the years, impacting Putin's every decision. Let's examine who among these individuals is considered close to Putin.
1. Nikolai Patrushev
Nikolai Patrushev, one of the most powerful members of the Siloviki, heads Russia's Security Council. A professional intelligence officer, Patrushev has known Putin since the 1970s when they worked together at the Leningrad KGB. Later, he served as the head of Russia's domestic FSB agency and has been the Chairman of the Security Council since 2008.
Interviews with Nikolai reveal him as a conspiratorial thinker who believes Western powers aim to destroy Russia. In a 2015 interview, he remarked that the U.S. wishes Russia to cease to exist as a nation.
Nikolai was reportedly the Kremlin's informal envoy for the Balkans and played a significant role in planning the 2016 Montenegro coup attempt to prevent the nation joining NATO.
2. Sergei Naryshkin
Sergei Naryshkin is the head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), rumored to be a former KGB official, has known Putin since at least the 1990s when they worked in the Saint Petersburg Mayor's Office. A loyalist, he has also been alongside Putin in the Kremlin.
Naryshkin likely met Putin during their spy training days and was stationed in Brussels as a diplomat while Putin was dispatched to Dresden as a young agent.
He heads the Russian Historical Society, which actively promotes an interpretation of Russian history that is a beloved project of Putin's. Sergei is an effective officer and skilled orator, sometimes touted as a potential successor to Putin.
3. Alexander Bortnikov
Alexander Bortnikov is the current director of Russia's domestic intelligence agency FSB, and a successor to the Soviet-era KGB. Bortnikov plays a crucial role in maintaining Putin's control over the country. The massive security apparatus employee millions, taking charge of everything from counter-terrorism to border security and electronic surveillance. Bortnikov has known Putin since the 1970s from their time in the Leningrad KGB, and his influence over Putin is considered lesser than Patrushev or Naryshkin.
4. Sergei Shoigu
Sergei Shoigu never served in the KGB or military, yet as Defense Minister, he is both a technocrat and a silovik. Under his watch, the modern Russian military, including the aggressive GRU, falls. This means he is regularly involved in critical security decisions. Shoigu hails from Tuva, a Buddhist republic in Siberia bordering Mongolia. Sergei and Putin have gone on widely publicized hunting and shooting expeditions together in Siberia.
According to a report by Sky News, Mark Galeotti, an expert on Russian security agencies from Mayak Intelligence, states Shoigu is a staunch supporter of national interests, though he lacks the deep-seated anti-Western stance typical of the others.
5. Valery Gerasimov
General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff, is an old-school Soviet general and seasoned military strategist. Planning the Ukrainian invasion was within General Gerasimov’s domain. President Putin values old soldier loyalty over outcomes, which is why Gerasimov has retained his top military post.
6. Anton Vaino
Anton Vaino is the Chief of Staff at the Presidential Executive Office. He is low-profile but is considered an exceptionally efficient manager within the Kremlin administration, trusted by Putin to keep affairs organized and bureaucrats in line.
7. Yury Kovalchuk
President Putin’s informal trusted confidants cannot be overlooked. Yury Kovalchuk is a Russian elite with personal and familial ties to the president. Yury and Putin met when Putin was deputy mayor of then-Leningrad (modern Saint Petersburg).
According to a report by Sky News, Mikhail Zygar, author of 'All the Kremlin's Men', notes that although Yury has never held government office, he's undeniably one of Russia's most influential figures and shares a close ideological bond with Putin.
