Mr. Putin's path to becoming president of Russia almost encountered obstacles 0
(Dan Tri) – Vladimir Putin’s path to becoming Russian president in the late 1990s seemed to have almost been hindered twice by a high-ranking figure in the Russian government at that time.
Former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov and Russian President Vladimir Putin (Photo: Sputnik)
According to RT, Mr. Valentin Yumashev, former Chief of Staff of the Kremlin under former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, on November 22 told stories behind the scenes of Russian politics in the late 1990s.
According to Mr. Yumashev, Mr. Putin’s political career could have turned in a completely different direction just a few months before he became president of Russia.
Mr. Putin served as head of the FSB from September 1998 to May 1999.
At that time, former Prime Minister Primakov was a famous and influential diplomat.
In Russia, Mr. Primakov is also considered one of the bright faces to succeed Mr. Yeltsin.
“Mr. Primakov tried to push Mr. Putin from his position at the FSB twice.
However, Mr. Yeltsin did not agree to let Mr. Primakov do so, Mr. Yumashev recounted without providing further information.
In addition, Mr. Yumashev also recounted several phone calls with Mr. Putin in the fall of 1998. At that time, Mr. Putin called to ask him about Mr. Primakov asking Mr. Putin to spy on Mr. Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the opposition Yabloko party.
Mr. Putin expressed his opposition to this strategy and said he would resign if Mr. Yeltsin agreed to spy on his opponent.
Ultimately, Mr. Primakov withdrew from the 2000 presidential race and Mr. Putin won.
A statue of Mr. Primakov was placed in front of the Russian Foreign Ministry headquarters in Moscow earlier this month.
Mr. Putin spoke at the ceremony of placing the statue of Mr. Primakov at the headquarters of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Photo: Sputnik)
Lord Emperor
According to RT
