The Bodyguard

You’ve never heard of him, but why is everybody (even the very British Daily Mail …) talking about Alexei Dyumin?

Alexei Dyumin, former presidential bodyguard and ice hockey player with the imperial court (that’s some CV …) has been appointed governor of the Tula region. For the moment he is acting governor, and will only take up his post officially after the election. But let’s not be under any illusions: Dyumin is already de facto governor, and the election, which will be a well-rehearsed pseudo-plebiscite, will only represent the conclusion of formalities.

The appointment of Alexei Dyumin is currently a hot topic among Russian political experts and columnists. Dyumin’s biography is so atypical for Russian governors that his appointment is seen as an important event in Russian politics and regarded as a news item of federal significance.

Most of the discussion centres round the recurring idea of the new “successor.” The expert community remembers 1999 when, in a matter of months, the spinning of the propaganda machine produced Vladimir Putin, who was also not widely known, quite young, with no negative publicity, and – very important as it turned out – a security services man. It is tempting to use the key of 1999 to decipher a Kremlin move.

The launch of operation “Alexei Dyumin, heir to Putin” was most strikingly presented by Sergei Dorenko, the pro-Kremlin journalist and head of “Moscow Speaks” radio station. “Putin now has three potential successors: Dmitri Medvedev, who would probably be acceptable to the Americans, but is unpopular with the Russian power elite; Andrei Vorobyov [governor of Moscow region], a Shoigu [Defence Minister] man, whose relationship with the law enforcement agencies ranges from okay to very good; and, finally, Alexei Dyumin, who has only recently appeared on the scene, and found the path into the Tula region magically cleared before him.” In Dorenko’s opinion, Putin’s faith in FSB Lieutenant-General Dyumin is reinforced by the latter’s pivotal role (at Putin’s behest) in “overseeing the Crimean operation in the spring of 2014.”

“That operation will increase Dyumin’s standing for Russians, and discredit him in American eyes – a good combination. Dyumin will never question the Putin legacy nor let any harm come to Putin himself. Dyumin will be excellent as a president for the power elite.”

Dorenko, though, is not sure when Dyumin might take over the presidency from the boss – in 2018 or 2024. “No point in asking questions for the moment because they themselves don’t know. It all depends on the economy and external pressures.”

Another influential (opposition) journalist, Alexei Venediktov, head of Ekho Moskvy radio, also considers Dyumin someone to be reckoned with. “Mr Dyumin is being groomed for 2018 – either as head of the administration of a newly-elected president, let us call him putin with a small p, or as head of state.

“The technique is clear for all to see … He has occupied high-ranking military posts and is now being put through his civil paces. He is clearly being groomed.”

Oleg Kashin, opposition journalist, is having none of it. “What will they come up with next to avoid the obvious? Putin has simply rewarded his bodyguard with Tula Region and that’s all there is to it.

“There have never been political careers which started with being a governor. Dyumin is the first. And this kind of high-handed appointment, combined with what is known of Dyumin’s closeness to Putin, is particularly distasteful.”

According to Kashin, the Dyumin story is only about “putting his [Putin] people in posts, which bring in money, handing out dodgy contracts, settling conflicts with the mayor, and everything else that attaches to being a governor.” Kashin sees the Dyumin phenomenon as a restoration of the forgotten concept of “the family” in Kremlin politics. “Families are not just wives and daughters. Alexei Dyumin is family.”

Perhaps the only thing we can be certain of is Dyumin’s reaction. “It was such a sudden thing for me, honestly, I did not expect it at all.”

Make of it what you will – succession plan, crony promotion, pre-election manoeuvring – Alexei Dyumin has had his hat thrown in the ring. But that’s the whole point, surely; he’s just another runner in a big field.