Russia's Elite 'Inherit' Public Office: Nepotism and Corruption Thrive

A striking pattern is emerging within Russia's political elite: the systematic placement of their offspring into key public service roles, a phenomenon described by political analyst Abbas Gallyamov as the "inheritance of empires." This trend signifies a consolidation of power and influence within a select group, where public office becomes a hereditary privilege rather than a merit-based appointment.

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The process of inheriting the empire created by their fathers is already underway. Part of it is bringing children into the public sphere.

The recent reshuffling at Rossotrudnichestvo, the agency tasked with projecting Russian soft power abroad, exemplifies this trend. The departure of Yevgeny Primakov Jr., grandson of the former Prime Minister and intelligence chief, and his replacement by Igor Chaika, son of ex-Prosecutor General Yury Chaika, has raised few eyebrows in Moscow. Such career trajectories for the children of the political elite, including the son of oligarch Arkady Rotenberg and the son of Kremlin chief Dmitry Patrushev, are becoming increasingly common and visible.

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The entire purpose of public service in Russia – well, over 90 percent – is to secure a position sufficient for receiving substantial profits through bribes, levies, various commissions, or 'envelope payments.'

This practice is viewed critically by figures like Gennady Gudkov, a former KGB officer and now an émigré politician. Gudkov asserts that for over 90 percent of individuals in Russian public service, the primary motivation is personal financial gain through bribes and illicit commissions. He characterizes this system as a product of dictatorial rule, fostering state-sponsored corruption that permeates both domestic and foreign policy. The elevation of figures like Dmitry Patrushev, son of FSB chief Nikolai Patrushev, to Deputy Prime Minister further fuels speculation about succession plans, highlighting how familial ties increasingly dictate political advancement in Russia.

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This system is a product of dictatorial rule. (...) They cause mass corruption on a state scale, which becomes the main element of the country's internal and foreign policy.