Who is Nikolai Patrushev, Russian reportedly in charge during Putin’s cancer recovery?By Evan Simko-Bednarski
May 2, 2022
As rumors swirl about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s supposed battle with cancer, a new report claims the strongman would temporarily hand power over to hardliner Nikolai Patrushev if health issues sidelined him.
The claims have not been independently verified, and Moscow roundly denies that Putin is in ill health. But who is the man who will helm the Kremlin if Putin takes a sick day?
Nikolai Patrushev, 70, is the secretary of Russia’s Security Council, an influential body that answers directly to Putin and issues guidance on military and security issues within Russia. Most of the council’s power is vested in Patrushev, who is widely seen as a staunch Putin ally.
Like Putin, Patrushev is a career Russian intelligence agent, first with the Soviet KGB, then later with the Russian FSB, according to the English-language newspaper Moscow Times. The paper likened Patrushev’s role to that of an American national security adviser.
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Source:
https://nypost.com/2022/05/02/nikolai-patrushev-could-be-in-charge-of-russia-should-putin-be-sidelined/
