Putin's Relatives in Official Positions: A Century Record
President Vladimir Putin has appointed at least 24 relatives to government roles or jobs in state-owned companies, likely setting a record for Russian leaders in the last 100 years, according to the independent investigative outlet Proekt.
Network of Beneficiaries
The group includes families connected to four women linked to Putin, his two known daughters, his paternal cousins Yevgeny Putin, Igor Putin, Lyubov Kruglova, and his maternal cousin Lyubov Shelomova.
- Anna Tsivilyova, daughter of Yevgeny Putin, serves as deputy defense minister.
- Her husband, Sergei Tsivilyov, is Russia’s energy minister.
- Her brother, Mikhail Putin, is deputy CEO of Gazprom.
- Viktor Khmarin, son of Lyubov Kruglova, leads the major electricity company RusHydro.
Rise of a Third Generation
Proekt’s report details the growing influence of Putin’s third generation of relatives holding high-ranking positions within state-affiliated enterprises.
Supporting Research
The findings complement a book by Proekt’s senior editors Roman Badanin and Mikhail Rubin, The Tsar Himself: How Vladimir Putin Deceived Us All, which explores Putin’s long-term personal connections and their network of influence.
Women Linked to Putin
- Ex-wife Lyudmila Ocheretnaya
- Former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva
- Multimillionaire Svetlana Krivonogikh, a former cleaner
- Alisa Kharcheva, a former Moscow State University student who appeared in Putin’s birthday calendar
“The Tsar Himself: How Vladimir Putin Deceived Us All,” by Roman Badanin and Mikhail Rubin, reveals the Russian leader’s complex personal relationships and influence network.
Putin’s extensive placement of family members in high-profile roles highlights the consolidation of power within his inner circle and suggests a deeply entrenched familial influence over Russia’s state institutions.