An interview with a prominent political analyst has disappeared from the website of the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper, one of Russia’s largest national print publications. In his interview, Valery Solovei predicted that Vladimir Putin will call early presidential elections in Russia. Solovei also said that Putin has encountered certain “problems” recently that will require him to pass the reins of power to a successor.
Valery Solovei, a professor at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, is known for being well-informed about internal Kremlin politics. Earlier this year, for instance, he accurately predicted that Anton Vaino would replace Sergei Ivanov as Putin’s chief of staff.
Solovei has refused to speak to reporters about the disappearance of his interview from Moskovsky Komsomolets’ website.
In the now vanished interview, which is still available on various Internet archives, Solovei said the Kremlin might call for a snap presidential election in the spring of 2017 — a year earlier than scheduled. Putin will not run for another term in office, Solovei argued.
According to the professor, the Putin administration will make its future plans clear next month in December. Solovei said that Putin is facing certain “problems” that will necessitate his absence from the public for several consecutive months. Putin is disappointed with his current cadres, Solovei claims, and has doubts about their ability to lead Russia on the world stage and develop the country’s relationship with the West.
Solovei said he believes Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s current prime minister and the one-time placeholder chief executive between Putin’s presidencies, is being groomed for a return to the Kremlin, but the country’s hardliners are reportedly resisting the move.
As in 2008, when Putin last stepped away from the presidency, the other potential successor is Sergei Ivanov, the man who was recently booted from Putin’s administration, but who still retains powerful political influence.
The interview with Solovei disappeared almost as soon as it was published. The newspaper’s chief editor and owner, Pavel Gusov, told the U.S.-government-funded media outlet Nastoyashchee Vremya (Current Time) that the interview was taken down after several factual errors were discovered in the text. It will take several days to make necessary corrections, Gusov said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
