Top Putin Adviser Known As The 'Gray Cardinal' Is Back After A Four Month Absence

Vladislav Surkov. © RIA Novosti. Jana Lapikova

‘Gray Cardinal’ Surkov Returns to Kremlin as Presidential Aide -- RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, September 20 (RIA Novosti) – Former Kremlin ideologue Vladislav Surkov, who resigned from the Russian government in May, has been appointed a presidential aide, the Kremlin press service said in a statement Friday.

The statement did not specify which areas Surkov is going to oversee, but presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov later confirmed that he would be responsible for social and economic issues in the breakaway Georgian provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, taking over the post previously occupied by Tatyana Golikova.

“He [Surkov] will deal with exactly the same issues as Golikova did,” Peskov said.

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More News On Top Putin Strategist Surkov Returning To The Kremlin

Putin Ideologue Returns as Key Aide to President -- Wall Street Journal
Putin strategist Surkov returns to Kremlin as aide -- BBC
Surkov Returns To Kremlin As Presidential Aide -- Radio Free Europe
Russia’s Putin brings "grey cardinal" Surkov back to Kremlin -- First Post

My Comment: For those who may not know .... Vladislav Surkov is the chief architect of the present political system in Russia. He was also Putin's closest aide until a corruption case put him on the sidelines. His return means many things .... but for me his return tells me that Russian President Putin is missing his advice, and he now wants him back.

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Russian President Putin Hints That He May Run For A Fourth Term

Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and Russian President Vladimir Putin during Valdai Club plenary session. © RIA Novosti. Mikhail Klimentiev

Russia’s Putin Says He May Seek 4th Term as President -- RIA Novsoti

VALDAI, Novgorod Region, September 19 (RIA Novosti) – In a playful exchange with France’s former prime minister, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday it was possible he would seek a fourth presidential term.

The exchange took place at the 10th annual meeting of the Valdai Club, a four-day, Kremlin-backed discussion forum bringing together several hundred Russian and foreign officials, scholars and other public figures in northwestern Russia.

During a question-and-answer session following Putin’s speech on Russia’s national identity, he asked former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon whether the latter planned to run for his country’s presidency; Fillon said he would reply only if Putin answered the same question – to which Putin said, “I don’t exclude [the possibility].”

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More News On Russian President Putin Hinting That He May Run For A Fourth Term

Russia's Putin says could seek re-election in 2018 -- Reuters
Putin says he may seek 4th presidential term -- AP
Putin Says He May Again Run for President -- Wall Street Journal
Putin may stand for fourth term as president of Russia -- BBC
Putin Does Not 'Rule Out' Re-election Bid -- Voice of America
Putin may run for a FOURTH presidential term in 2018 to become Russia’s longest serving leader since Stalin -- Daily Mail
Russian President Vladimir Putin may seek a fourth presidential term -- Global Post

My Comment: My prediction is that he will run. I do not know if he will win .... the election is years from now and politics is always changing .... but if he was to run today he will probably end up with the same result .... winning the election but barely above 60%.

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