11 April 2016 the President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed Decree No. 170 which was excluded from the composition of the security Council of the Russian Federation Boris Gryzlov. The same decree from the text of the Decree No. 159 dated 5 April 2016 has been deleted the word “permanent”.

This enigmatic phrase means that Viktor Zolotov, was appointed a week ago as chief of the National guard and a permanent member of the security Council of the Russian Federation, permanent members of this body transferred to the members is simple. In other words, the character's status in the Russian bureaucratic hierarchy has decreased. It seems that in the Moscow corridors of power is something extraordinary.

Let's start with Gryzlov. Russian journalists wrote a lot about two of the Leningrad school students with close friendships and even sitting at the same Desk – the Bor Gryzlov and Patrushev the Tunic. Their friendship has stood the test of time, though Nikolai Patrushev joined the KGB of the USSR, and Boris Gryzlov was engaged in the development of electronic devices for military purposes. The peak of his career in Soviet times, became an office bearer of the trade Union Chairman of the Leningrad production Association “Electropribor”. In the Soviet Union for such positions usually put forward people who are not capable neither to research, nor to a career in the party. After the collapse of the USSR Gryzlov was engaged in business, but without success. But after the election of Putin in 2000, Russian President Gryzlov cases have gone up sharply, thanks to the friendship with Patrushev in less than two years from anyone not known Petersburg businessman he became first Minister of the interior, and then the speaker of the State Duma and the President of the institution of the high Council of party “United Russia”. Contemporaries Gryzlov remembered for the phrase “Parliament is no place for discussions” and the close cooperation with another perpetual motion machine inventor Victor Petrik. Only the heroic efforts of the Russian Academy of Sciences did not allow Peter supported Gryzlov get almost 15 trillion rubles for the widespread introduction of the invented miracle of filters, supposedly making the contaminated water drinkable.

In December 2011, on the eve of the coming of Putin to the Kremlin, and Gryzlov as speaker of Parliament was replaced by Sergei Naryshkin. Most likely, Putin decided that though the Parliament really cannot and should not be a “place for discussion”, would say so publicly uncomfortable, especially on the background then flared up mass protests. Gryzlov nevertheless retained the post of permanent member of the security Council, most likely, again thanks to the patronage of his friend Patrushev, who in 2008 was moved from the Directors of the FSB in the chair Secretary SAT. This is indicative of strong political influence Patrushev, as a part of the permanent security Council members are people holding the highest positions in the Russian government: the President, the Prime Minister, the speakers of the two chambers of Parliament, heads of security agencies, Foreign Affairs and so on. Gryzlov, in violation of this principle, was left a permanent member of the security Council solely in a personal capacity.

And now Gryzlov removed from the security Council. On this circumstance could not be ignored, if not for one circumstance. Simultaneously with the creation of the National guard was abolished Federal service for drug control (PXN), and its Director Viktor Ivanov any new posts in the state apparatus is not received. Meanwhile, Viktor Ivanov, a friend of Patrushev and Gryzlov are still students. In the early 1990-ies to the three friends joined Nurgaliev, Patrushev, his subordinate in the Karelian Department of the FSB. Since the beginning of last decade and up to 2008 the group Patrushev – Gryzlov, Ivanov, Nurgaliyev controlled almost all security service of Russia. Patrushev was Director of the Federal security service, Nurgaliyev, the interior Minister, Viktor Ivanov as Deputy head of the presidential Administration, responsible for personnel appointments, are in the nomenclature of the President, including in law enforcement agencies.

In the current decade Patrushev – Secretary SAT, Nurgaliyev – Deputy Patrushev on SAT, Gryzlov until 11 April 2016 – permanent member of the security Council. The apparatus of the security Council does not have its own intelligence networks and law enforcement capabilities, does not control financial flows, and is not responsible for any personnel issues. Until recently, the Federal drug control service was only related to the group Patrushev structure, which had a network of agents and authority to conduct investigative activities, in other words, were independent from other agencies source information and collecting dirt. So, it seems, the influence of Patrushev and his friends is rapidly shrinking.

Looks even more interesting lowering of the status character. The appointment of a permanent security Council member put it on par with the heads of key security agencies – the FSB, MVD, SVR and the Ministry of defence. It seemed quite natural, given that Zolotov is (at least to him) one of the most close to Putin persons, and the national guard is becoming a key tool for ensuring the security of the current regime and its leader. Therefore, there was something out of the ordinary, what prompted Putin, and only six days after the introduction of the character's membership in the permanent security Council members, to change their decision.

The lowering of the status character can be caused by two reasons. First – he demanded too much power, which caused the dissatisfaction or, even worse, the suspicions of Putin. In this case, his exclusion from the permanent security Council members – the signal: “Know your place!” The second was a joint demarche of heads of law enforcement agencies, which demanded that Putin to limit the role and influence of the National guard and the chief, which Putin was unable to resist. And in fact, and in another case, from the point of view of the Russian bureaucracy, Putin has lost face. He either admits that he made a mistake, or is forced to act under pressure group in their immediate environment. It is known that the damage to his image Putin perceives extremely painful.

And most importantly, the creation of the National guard, reorganization of security agencies, a weakening of Patrushev and his band, strange zigzag associated with the character's membership in the security Council, taking place against the background of unpleasant for the Kremlin events. The economic prognosis is not good. The attempt to “exchange” Syria to Ukraine has failed: the West still demands Moscow to withdraw its troops from the Donbass and to transfer control over the border of Ukraine. Putin refused to participate in the nuclear security summit, knowing that he would have to listen to many reproaches in connection with the refusal from the reduction of nuclear arsenals. Sooner rather than later will be published the findings of an investigation about the death of a Malaysian airliner and, quite possibly, will be officially established Russia's responsibility for this crime. This creates growing tension and nervousness of the Russian elite. Grounds for optimism in the Kremlin not.

Юрий Федоров – военно-политический эксперт

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