The head of the presidential administration in the conditions of rigid centralized power is considered one of the most powerful people in Russian politics. He heads the apparatus, which, in terms of its capabilities, is in no way inferior to the government, interacts directly with the head of state and largely determines his policy. Not so long ago, this position was held by Sergei Ivanov, one of the most powerful and influential people in Russian politics.
Behind enemy lines and at home
Sergey Borisovich was born in Leningrad in 1953. He studied at a specialized school with in-depth study of foreign languages and planned to become a diplomat in the future. On the way to this goal, he entered the Leningrad State University, where he began to study at the translation department of the philological faculty. However, here, among other talented students, he was singled out by sharp-sighted recruits of the powerful KGB.
In 1974, Sergei Ivanov went toGreat Britain, where he improves his English at Ealing Technical College. After returning to his homeland, the future head of the presidential administration of the Russian Federation successfully completes his studies at the Leningrad State University and goes to special KGB courses in Minsk, where he trains for another year.
Then he is assigned to his hometown, to serve in the First Department of the KGB of the Leningrad Region. This is where he crosses paths with Vladimir Putin, who served in the same department.
After several years of work, Sergei Ivanov is sent for a promotion - to the First Main Directorate of the KGB, which was engaged in foreign intelligence. Until 1985, he established residency in Finland, then, due to the disclosure of the network, he was transferred to Kenya.
Service at the new time
The collapse of the USSR greatly crippled the power of the once all-powerful Committee. Since 1991, it has undergone continuous and controversial reforms, resulting in the loss of a huge number of professionals from the ranks of the state security service.
However, the future head of the presidential administration remained true to his oath and conscientiously continued to serve in his First Main Directorate, which was separated into a separate structure and became known as the Foreign Intelligence Service. Here he gradually rises up the ranks and ends his career as Deputy Director of the European Department in 1998.
Just at this time, Vladimir triumphantly returns to his native state security agenciesPutin. He left the structure in the early nineties, going into politics. However, a few years later they decided to appoint him the director of the FSB, relying on his vast experience in this specific activity. The new leader decided to appoint Sergey Ivanov as his deputy, whose working qualities he managed to appreciate while serving in the Leningrad department of the KGB.
Government work
In 2000, Sergei Borisovich was poisoned to retire from military service due to seniority, having risen to the rank of colonel general. Thus began his political career. A year earlier, he had already become secretary of the National Security Council, and in 2001 he became the first non-military defense minister in Russian history. In this post, he zealously set to work, taking on the solution of the most pressing issues.
Former intelligence officer has repeatedly publicly spoken out in favor of a reduction in the size of the army, a gradual change from conscript service to a contract service, and a reduction in service life. He became the first defense minister to publicly pledge not to send conscripts to Chechnya and other war zones. Sergey Ivanov also restored the practice of large-scale military exercises, often held jointly with the armies of other countries.
However, under Ivanov, there were a number of high-profile incidents related to hazing in the army. One of the victims of hazing was Private Andrei Sychev, who as a result remained disabled for life.
Ivanov - head of presidential administration
In 2007a veteran of domestic foreign intelligence was appointed to the post of First Deputy Prime Minister in the government of Viktor Zubkov. Dmitry Medvedev got a similar position, and for a long time political scientists wondered which of them would be the most likely successor to Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin kept the intrigue until the last moment, a few months before the election, announcing the nomination of Medvedev. Ivanov also supported his government colleague.
After the presidential elections in 2008, Vladimir Putin headed the government, and Sergei Ivanov took the post of first deputy in his cabinet.
Four years later, there was a kind of castling in power, as a result of which Vladimir Vladimirovich returned to the presidency, and Medvedev became prime minister. Putin chose a proven ally as head of the presidential administration, taking Sergei Ivanov with him to the Kremlin. The presidential administration in Russian realities is not a simple bureaucracy. Its head exercises control over the decrees of the first person of the state, is the main channel of communication with the president.
The powers and responsibilities of Sergei Ivanov were enormous, and he conscientiously served in this post until 2016. According to the president, Sergei Borisovich asked for his resignation in connection with the accumulated fatigue and the tragedy that occurred in his family. Ivanov now holds the position of Special Representative of the President for Environmental Issues.
