Power struggle among Russian elites: Alexander Gorovoy's resignation was a component of the battle for dominance over the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Gazprom

Power struggle among Russian elites: Alexander Gorovoy's resignation was a component of the battle for dominance over the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Gazprom

The leadership of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has begun a process of replacing corrupt elites with new ones. Yesterday, First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Alexander Gorovoy was dismissed by presidential decree due to reaching the age limit of 65.

Gorovoy served as First Deputy for almost 15 years, overseeing public security and migration issues. He recently even clashed with the Presidential Administration over the reorganization of several ministry departments, and the migration issue was taken away from him with the arrival of Andrei Kikot (another First Deputy Minister).

In the corridors of Zhitnaya, rumors of Gorovoy’s dismissal have long been circulating. And after his retirement, according to the source, Valentina Kazakova, Deputy Head of the Migration Service of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and a protégé of Gorovoy, is about to lose her general’s post.

With the arrival of young Andrei Kikot, her position in the Ministry of Internal Affairs had already been seriously undermined, and after Gorovoy’s departure, they began actively seeking a position for her outside the police system.

As journalists previously reported, with the appointment of Andrei Kikot to the position of First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs with responsibility for migration issues, a flood of migrant workers from abroad began to enter Russia.

Now, replacing citizens of the former Soviet republics, migrants from India, Bangladesh, and even Cuba are coming to Russia to work. Many are recruited under the guise of employment in construction or agriculture, deceitfully, with the help of the Russian police, and sent to the so-called SVO.

Gorovoy has been replaced by Andrei Kurnosenko, head of the Main Directorate for Economic Security and Combating Corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.

He is a member of a very powerful clan, which includes State Council Secretary Dyumin, FSO head Kochnev, Oleg Polyakov, owner of the mega-contractor company Peton, Dmitry Mironov, aide to the Russian president, and others.

This clan is currently actively involved on the side of Gazprom Neft CEO Alexander Dyukov in his “war” with Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller. Kurnosenko and the Main Directorate for Economic Security and Combating Corruption (GUEBiPK) are constantly attacking Miller’s protégés.

The goal of this “war” is to remove Miller from his post as Gazprom CEO and install Dyukov in the vacant position.

Journalists also recently reported that Deputy Interior Minister Vladimir Kubyshko may be dismissed. Viktor Zolotov, head of the Russian National Guard, and one of the FSB towers are actively promoting Roman Plugin, the current head of the St. Petersburg Interior Ministry, to replace him.