Washington Post names seven potential successors to Putin

The US newspaper The Washington Post has named seven potential candidates who could lead Russia after President Vladimir Putin.

TodayPress TV reports that, in an article published on September 18, the newspaper identified Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Russian President’s State Council Secretary Alexei Dyumin, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev, Chairman of Russia’s Accounts Chamber Boris Kovalchuk, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin and Kremlin domestic policy chief Sergei Kiriyenko as potential successors.

The publication notes that Putin has for years left questions about his possible successor unanswered. According to The Washington Post, Russia’s power structure has been built around Putin, and the system has prevented any individual from accumulating enough power to directly challenge the president. As a result, there is currently no clearly designated successor.

The article separately analyzes the political and administrative positions of each potential candidate. Mishustin is presented as the person who, under the Russian Constitution, would automatically assume the presidency if required to perform the president’s duties ahead of schedule.

Alexei Dyumin is described as Putin’s former bodyguard and a figure who spent years working in security and military structures. He led Russia’s Special Operations Forces during the 2014 annexation of Crimea, later served as deputy defence minister and governor of Tula region, and has been secretary of the State Council since 2024. 

Dmitry Patrushev is the son of Nikolai Patrushev, a former head of the Federal Security Service and former secretary of Russia’s Security Council. He was appointed deputy prime minister in 2024.

Boris Kovalchuk is the son of prominent Russian businessman Yury Kovalchuk. He currently heads Russia’s Accounts Chamber.

Denis Manturov headed Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade for many years. In 2024, he was appointed first deputy prime minister and became one of the key officials overseeing the military-industrial complex. 

Sergei Sobyanin has served as mayor of Moscow since 2010. Before that, he held a senior position in Putin’s administration. 

Sergei Kiriyenko currently oversees domestic policy in the Kremlin administration. He became Russia’s youngest prime minister in 1998 and later headed Rosatom. The Washington Post identifies his influence over personnel policy and political processes in Russia as one of his potential advantages. 

The publication also emphasizes that the inclusion of these individuals among potential successors does not mean that any of them has been officially designated as Putin’s successor. The article focuses on figures who could come to the forefront in the event of a possible transfer of power in Russia. 

Giymat Mahir