Robert Amsterdam

What follows is an exclusive translation of a short article from the German publication "FOCUS," which reports on Vladimir Putin's ordering of additional security to protect Dmitri Medvedev - a sign of the heightened concerns among competing factions within the Kremlin as the elections approach. According to sources consulted by this journalist, Putin is attempting to completely sideline Igor Sechin.

FOCUS, 31 December 2007

Boris Reitschuster

Cabal in the Kremlin: Putin increases protection for crown prince Medvedev

Behind the scenes there seem to be power struggles over Vladimir Putin succession plans: Due to security concerns related to his "crown prince" Dimitri Medvedev, the current head of state – according to information from Kremlin insiders – has assigned his own personal body guards (assigned by the KGB successor FSB). Now the president's security service is responsible for Medvedev's protection – even though he is not entitled to these protections as vice prime minister.

Obviously Putin distrusts FSB head Nikolai Patruschev. He is associated with the "Siloviki", a powerful security service clan within the Kremlin. The former KGB agents resent Putin's decision to nominate their antagonist Medvedev as his successor.

In fear of sabotage, Putin obviously put his previous confidant and head of the secretary Igor Sechin, a powerful decision maker of the "Siloviki", on leave and banned him de facto from Moscow. It is said that Sechin however tried to undermine Putin's decision and to position prime minister Viktor Zubkov as candidate for president against Putin's will. This "attempted coup" failed.

Piquant: In his side job the hardliner Sechin is head of the board of directors of the oil company Rosneft and a personal adversary of Medvedev. Medvedev namely is the chairman of the board of the Rosneft competitor Gazprom, and is associated with the moderate wing within the Kremlin.