See Also
Surkov's Sovereign Democracy
Special to Russia Profile,
08/05/2005
Western reaction to Vladislav Surkov’s talk of “sovereign democracy” is likely to be predictably negative. The reality, however, is not so simple, argues Vladimir Frolov.
Faustian Bargains
Opposition Parties Must Carefully Stay in Bounds in Order to Remain in the Election Hunt
By Andrew Roth
Russia Profile,
11/25/2011In the upcoming elections in Russia, heavy pressure is expected from the top echelons of United Russia and the Kremlin to produce a landslide victory for the leading party in the regions. At the same time, the country’s systemic and non-systemic opposition parties face a conundrum: recognizing that powerful circles in the Kremlin have a strong influence over which parties make it into the Duma and in what numbers, they must find a way to come to terms with the Kremlin while trying to maintain an independent image.
There’s No “UR” In “Team”
Without Constitutional Majority, United Russia May Lose Its Rubber Stamp Parliament
Russia Profile,
12/06/2011As the dust begins to settle two days after the Duma elections, the party of power has some serious thinking to do. After its unprecedented poor showing, in which it garnered just around 50 percent of the vote, United Russia lost its constitutional majority and will be forced to do something it never has before: compromise with other parties. But the real repercussions of the vote, experts said, may be more far-reaching.
Most Popular Stories
Editor's Choice
SURKOV, Vladislav Yuryevich
Deputy Prime Minister
08/26/2010
Vladislav Surkov (Владислав Юрьевич Сурков) was born on September 21, 1964, in the village of Solntsevo, Lipetsk region. A public relations expert, he is the main ideologue behind Vladimir Putin’s team. After three years as first deputy head of the Presidential Administration, on December 27, 2011 he was appointed deputy prime minister.
Surkov works under the name Vladislav Surkov, but in the mid 2000s it was widely reported that his father is Chechen and he was born Aslambek Andarbekovich Dudaev. In a June 2005 interview with Spiegel he confirmed this and said that he spent the first five years of his life living in Chechnya.
Surkov graduated from the International University in Moscow with a master’s degree in economics. Between 1983 and 1985 he served in the Soviet army and from the late 1980s to the early 1990s he worked for various non-governmental companies and organizations.
There is a lot of confusion around some aspects of Surkov's early career. Various sources indicate that he studied for a time at both the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys and the Institute of Culture. In the late 1980s he is also rumored to have worked alongside Mikhail Khodorkovsky at the Center for Inter-Industry Scientific and Technical Programs, and between 1990 and 1992 served a brief stint as head of the Metapress marketing & communications agency.
From 1991 to 1996 Surkov worked for Mikhail Khodorkovsky's Menatep, before running public relations at Rosprom and working for Alfa Bank in 1997. Surkov worked in television in the late 1990s, as deputy head of the ORT television channel.
In 1999 Surkov made the move into politics when he was appointed first aide to the head of the Presidential Administration and then his deputy. He was reappointed to both of these positions in March 2004. In May 2008, Surkov was promoted to first deputy head of the Presidential Administration, then serving under Sergei Naryshkin. Following Naryshkin's appointment as speaker of the State Duma in December 2011, Surkov briefly served as acting head of the Presidential Administration. Sergei Ivanov was appointed Naryshkin's permanent replacement on December 22.
Surkov is well-known as the ideologue behind Vladimir Putin's rule and is credited with coining the term "sovereign democracy" to define and legitimize his policies. Surkov was also closely involved in the creation of pro-Kremlin youth groups, such as Nashi and Molodaya Gvardiya.
On December 27th, 2011, following parliamentary elections marred by allegations of mass fraud and the widescale protests that ensued, Surkov was appointed deputy prime minister in charge of modernization.
Surkov speaks fluent English and is married with three children.
Surkov's profile on the Kremlin Web site
