Alternative centers of influence may be emerging within the Russian political system, becoming increasingly less dependent on the personal political brand of Vladimir Putin and United Russia. The authors of a new investigation draw attention to three high-ranking officials — Sergei Sobyanin, Mikhail Mishustin, and Andrei Belousov.
According to the authors of the report, a distinct public image is gradually being shaped for each of them.
- Sergei Sobyanin is being positioned as an independent and effective administrator capable of taking on a significantly greater political role.
- Mikhail Mishustin is being presented as a technocrat and systematic manager focused primarily on the efficiency of the state apparatus.
- Andrei Belousov is being portrayed as a tough “state auditor” who controls spending and demands results from the system.
According to the investigation, regional media outlets, Telegram channels, and professional PR teams are being used to promote these images. As a result, a separate information ecosystem is gradually being built around each of these officials.
The authors also cite the results of an August poll, according to which 47.6% of respondents supported Sobyanin as a potential future president, while 38.1% backed Mishustin and 36.7% supported Belousov. According to the figures presented in the report, Putin’s rating was lower than that of each of these three officials.
If the trends described genuinely reflect developments within the Russian political system, this may be about more than simply promoting individual officials. It could indicate that different groups of influence are gradually preparing their own political projects and possible scenarios for the future.
Full investigation: watch on YouTube
Published correspondence from Kremlin insiders: view on Telegram
