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Vyacheslav Volodin

Vyacheslav Volodin

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Vyacheslav Viktorovich Volodin (Russian: Вячеслав Викторович Володин, IPA: [vʲɪtɕɪsˈlaf ˈvʲiktərəvʲɪtɕ vɐˈlodʲin]; born 4 February 1964) is a prominent Russian politician, currently serving as the 10th Chairman of the State Duma since October 2016. He is a figure deeply entrenched in the political landscape, having previously served as an aide to President Vladimir Putin. His political trajectory also includes significant roles such as the former Secretary-General of the United Russia party. Volodin has been a member of the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, in several capacities: from 1999 to 2011, and again from 2016 to the present.

His tenure in high office extends to his time as Deputy Prime Minister of Russia from 2010 to 2012, and as the first Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration of Russia. He holds the distinguished federal state civilian service rank of 1st class Active State Councillor of the Russian Federation. Volodin is widely recognized for his instrumental role in steering Vladimir Putin's conservative agenda during his third presidential term, and he is considered a key member of Putin's inner circle. His influence is such that he is often seen as a principal architect of Putinism.

Early life and education

Volodin’s early life began on 4 February 1964, in the village of Alekseyevka, located within the Khvalynsky District of Saratov Oblast, Soviet Union. He was born into a large family. His father, a captain of the river fleet, passed away when Volodin was only 51, in 1969. Following his father's death, Volodin was raised by his stepfather. He has spoken of his siblings, noting that his sister works in a consulting firm, while his brother is a military pensioner. All of them, according to Volodin himself, continue to reside in the Saratov Oblast. His mother, a graduate of the Saratov Pedagogical College, chose to remain in her native region after completing her studies, declining a job assignment to Leningrad. Her decision was rooted in her desire to care for her elderly mother. She dedicated her career to teaching, serving as a primary school teacher in a rural school.

Volodin pursued higher education with a focus on engineering, graduating in mechanical engineering from the faculty of organization and technology at the Saratov State Agrarian University in 1986. He later expanded his academic pursuits into law, obtaining a Doctor of Law degree from the Russian Academy of State Service under the President of the Russian Federation in 1995. His academic journey culminated in a PhD in law from the St. Petersburg University of the Russian Interior Ministry in 1996. His doctoral thesis, titled "A Russian Constituent Entity: Problems of Power, Law-making and Administration" (Russian: Субъект Российской Федерации: проблемы власти, законотворчества и управления, romanized: Subyekt Rossiyskoy Federatsii: problemy vlasti, zakonotvorchestva i upravleniya, meaning 'Subject of the Russian Federation: problems of power, lawmaking and governance'), delved into the intricacies of regional governance and legislative processes within Russia. During his studies in St. Petersburg, he also engaged in academic work, serving as a lecturer and assistant professor.

Business interests

Since 2 August 2009, Volodin has been involved in business ventures through the cooperative "Sosny" (Russian: ДНП «Сосны»). His partners in this endeavor include prominent political figures such as Sergey Neverov, who served as Deputy Chairman of the State Duma and a key figure in United Russia; Igor Rudensky, a former member of the Presidium of the General Council of United Russia; Sergei Prikhodko, who held the position of Deputy Prime Minister; Konstantin Kosachev, who at the time chaired the Duma Committee on International Affairs; Yu.V. Pervova; and Nikolay Ashlapov, who later headed the Federal Agency for Special Construction. The cooperative "Sosny" acquired land from Nadezhda Ivanovna Makeeva, who was associated with Bolshoy Gorod LLC (Russian: ООО «Большой Город»). Notably, Makeeva's husband, Vladimir Pavlovich Makeev, is the chairman of the board of NMC "Itera" and a close associate of Igor Makarov, the president of Itera.

In June 2014, the investigative group Anonymous International brought to light documents suggesting that Volodin was a strong supporter of the interests of Yevgeny Prigozhin and the individuals associated with the Internet Research Agency, often referred to as trolls. This revelation cast a shadow on his public image, linking him to controversial online influence operations.

Political career

Part of a series on Conservatism in Russia

Volodin's political ideology is complex and has been described with various labels, including Eurasianism, Monarchism, Tsarism, Liberal conservatism, Populism, Putinism, and Traditionalist conservatism. His principles often emphasize Authority, Autocracy, Bureaucracy, Byzantinism, Duty, Familialism, Imperialism, Irredentism, Law and order, Orthodox values, Nationalism, the concept of an All-Russian identity, Christian nationalism, Ultranationalism, and a notion of "Nuclear Orthodoxy". He also supports Market intervention, the idea of "Moscow, third Rome", Patriotism, Reactionary politics, distinct Russian culture, Russification, Slavophilia, Sobornost, Social hierarchy, Social order, Sovereign democracy, and Statism.

His understanding of Russian political history draws from concepts like Great Russia, the legacy of the Russian Empire, the triad of "Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality", the historical Zemstvo movement, Pochvennichestvo, the Black Hundreds, the White movement, and the White Army. He has been influenced by various intellectuals and politicians, including figures like Ivan Ilyin, Konstantin Pobedonostsev, and Vladislav Surkov, and his political thought is often discussed in relation to concepts such as Silovik and Russia under Vladimir Putin.

Regional politics

Volodin’s political career began at the regional level. In 1990, he was elected as a member of the Saratov City Duma. His influence grew, and by 1992, he held the position of Deputy Head of Administration of Saratov. He continued to ascend within regional governance, becoming deputy chairman of the Saratov Oblast Duma in 1994. In 1996, he was appointed Vice Governor of the Saratov region, solidifying his position in regional leadership.

Deputy Chairman of the Duma (1999–2010)

Volodin entered federal politics in the Russian legislative election in 1999, running as a candidate for the political bloc Fatherland – All Russia. Upon his election to the third State Duma, he assumed the role of deputy chairman. By September 2001, he had become the head of the Fatherland – All Russia faction.

In the 2003 Russian legislative election, he successfully ran for a seat in the fourth State Duma, representing the Balakovo constituency in Saratov Oblast. During this term, he once again served as deputy chairman of the Duma. He was also appointed first deputy head of the fraction of the ruling party United Russia, which had been founded in 2001. His leadership within the party was further recognized when, in 2005, he became the party's Secretary-General of its Council Presidium.

In the 2007 Russian legislative election, he was elected to the Russian State Duma for its fifth session. He held the position of Chairman of the State Duma until October 2010.

Deputy Chairman of Government (2010–2012)

On 21 October 2010, Volodin transitioned to executive government, being appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Russia under Dmitry Medvedev. Simultaneously, following the dismissal of Sergey Sobyanin who was approved as Mayor of Moscow, Volodin also assumed the crucial role of Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office.

First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration of Russia (2012–2016)

Father of spy software

Following the significant mass protests against the outcomes of the 2011 Russian legislative election, which were notably organized through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LiveJournal by figures such as Alexei Navalny, Volodin, then serving as Deputy Prime Minister and later as First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration of Russia with responsibility for domestic policy, was tasked with countering such online mobilization efforts. This led to the development and implementation of the Prisma system (Russian: «Призма»). Prisma was designed to "actively track the social media activities that result in increased social tension, disorderly conduct, protest sentiments and extremist" sentiments. By monitoring protesters' discussions on blogs and social networks in real time, it performed extensive social media tracking. This initiative is seen as a precursor to the establishment of the Internet Research Agency. Prisma terminals were reportedly installed in approximately fifty key offices, including those of the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Moscow mayor's office, the office of State Duma Speaker Sergey Naryshkin, and the head of Rosneft, Igor Sechin.

Despite Volodin's vocal support for Vladimir Putin, often encapsulated in statements like "no Putin, no Russia," speculation about his presidential ambitions has persisted. In 2012, a close associate of Volodin told Reuters that he believed Volodin was a future president, citing his "desire to fly high." Another individual close to Volodin shared a similar sentiment, remarking that while an ordinary person might plan their evening, Volodin possessed a "plan for life," recalling that even when he was Vice Mayor of Saratov, he expressed aspirations of becoming President of Russia. Furthermore, in 2015, cleric Vsevolod Chaplin, commenting on an article in the Izvestia newspaper regarding the personal lives of several Russian political figures, also alluded to Volodin's presidential ambitions.

Sanctions

On 28 April 2014, in the wake of the Crimean status referendum, the U.S. Treasury placed Volodin on the Specially Designated Nationals List (SDN). This designation identified him as a "member of the Russian leadership's inner circle," subjecting him to sanctions that include the freezing of any assets he holds within the United States and a ban on entering the country.

On 12 May 2014, Volodin was added to the European Union's sanctions list, a measure taken due to his perceived role in the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. Consequently, he is prohibited from entering EU member states, and his assets within the EU have been frozen. The United Kingdom government also imposed sanctions on him in the same year.

Chairman of the State Duma

Volodin is a staunch loyalist to President Putin. His unwavering support was famously articulated in 2014 when he stated: "If we have Putin, we have Russia. If there's no Putin, there's no Russia."

Elections

2016

Rumors that Volodin might be appointed as the new Chairman of the State Duma following the 2016 Russian legislative election began to circulate prior to the election, though they remained unconfirmed. After the election, the outgoing Chairman, Sergey Naryshkin, was appointed Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service. On 23 September 2016, President Vladimir Putin put forward Volodin's nomination to the United Russia party as Naryshkin's successor. The majority leader, Vladimir Vasilyev, endorsed Volodin's candidacy, as did the factions of the Liberal Democratic Party and A Just Russia. On 5 October 2016, Volodin was formally elected Chairman of the State Duma with a decisive 404 votes. His sole opponent was the communist candidate Dmitry Novikov, who received 40 votes.

2021

In 2021, Volodin was again nominated for the chairmanship of the 8th State Duma. His candidacy once more received endorsements from the Liberal Democratic Party and A Just Russia — For Truth. Dmitry Novikov from the Communist Party again served as the sole opponent. On 12 October 2021, Volodin was re-elected as Chairman of the State Duma, securing 360 votes.

Tenure

Volodin, pictured with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in the State Duma on 21 June 2018, has been an influential figure. In October 2016, he was ranked among the top three most influential politicians in Russia, following President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, according to a rating by the Center for Political Technologies. Surveys conducted by the expert-analytical center of RANEPA indicate a high level of public recognition for Vyacheslav Volodin. An impressive 83% of respondents were aware of his position as Chairman of the State Duma, with 78% holding a positive or neutral view of his performance in that role.

On 24 November 2016, he was elected Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Subsequently, on 26 December 2016, he assumed the chairmanship of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State.

Volodin, pictured with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 18 August 2018, has focused on improving parliamentary discipline. One of his early initiatives was to prohibit deputies from voting by proxy for absent colleagues, thus requiring their personal attendance at sessions. Fines were also introduced for missing meetings without valid justification, reinforcing a stricter approach to parliamentary conduct.

Volodin, pictured with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 10 December 2018, has demonstrated a firm hand in managing parliamentary proceedings. On 6 March 2019, during a State Duma session, he notably interrupted the report of the Minister of Economic Development, Maxim Oreshkin, before the minister could conclude his presentation. Volodin cited Oreshkin's lack of preparation as the reason for the interruption and suggested he present again in a month, a departure from the typical annual reporting schedule. This incident was reportedly the first of its kind in the post-Soviet history of Russia.

Volodin, pictured with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on 5 August 2021, has been a proponent of strengthening the State Duma's role in government formation. On 6 April 2019, he proposed amendments to the Constitution of Russia that would grant the State Duma greater involvement in the appointment of government members. While the Duma currently only has the power to consent to the President's nomination of the Prime Minister, Volodin argued that increased participation in forming the government would align with principles of a proper balance of power and foster greater ministerial accountability. His proposal garnered support from the leaders of all opposition parliamentary parties. In January 2020, President Putin echoed this sentiment, proposing constitutional amendments to enhance the Duma's role in government formation during his Address to the Federal Assembly.

In November 2019, Volodin expressed concerns regarding Ukrainian nationalism, suggesting that the alleged oppression of ethnic minorities in Ukraine could lead to the secession of certain regions from the country.

On 28 January 2022, Volodin publicly stated that "Russia will not go to war against Ukraine." However, on 18 February 2022, he demanded that the West apologize for what he termed "disinformation" regarding alleged Kremlin plans to invade Ukraine.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Volodin stated that the objective of the operation was "to protect people living in Ukraine." He articulated on his Telegram channel that "demilitarizing Ukraine" was the "only path that will allow us to prevent war in Europe. Our only chance to stop the fighting and the humanitarian catastrophe." According to Meduza, he was among the first Russian politicians to publicly endorse the invasion. He has also denounced Russians who oppose the war as "traitors." On 11 March 2022, he asserted that "[Ukrainian] citizens are expendable for Washington and Brussels: the war to the last Ukrainian takes hundreds of lives every day. The Kyiv regime leads Ukraine to its complete disappearance." On 5 April 2022, Volodin claimed that the Bucha massacre was a staged "provocation" orchestrated by the West and Ukraine, intended "to discredit Russia."

On 6 July 2022, Volodin issued a warning that Russia might reclaim the US state of Alaska, which was sold by Russia to the United States in 1867, should the United States persist in seizing Russian assets abroad.

Russian citizens critical of the 2022 Russian mobilization have widely used social media platforms, including Twitter, to question top Russian officials and deputies who supported the war and mobilization, asking if they or their sons would participate in the conflict. While most officials evaded direct answers or provided excuses, Volodin stated that the State Duma would support deputies who wished to enlist in the army and fight in Ukraine.

Volodin, meeting with South Africa's National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula at the "Russia-Africa" parliamentary conference in Moscow on 20 March 2023, has engaged in international diplomacy. In September 2022, he met with Chinese politician Li Zhanshu, a member of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee and considered a close confidant of CCP general secretary Xi Jinping.

On 22 September 2022, in an effort to legitimize the military mobilization to the Russian public, Volodin claimed that "not only armed Nazi formations, but also NATO forces are fighting against our soldiers and officers" in Ukraine. He has controversially asserted that Ukraine "has lost the ability to exist as a state," is "occupied by NATO," and has "become a colony of the US."

Volodin, at a meeting of the Russian-led CSTO Parliamentary Assembly Council in Minsk, Belarus, on 18 May 2023, has sought to downplay the impact of international sanctions against Russia. He stated that "Western sanctions are leading to the establishment of another group of eight nations—China, India, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, Iran and Turkey—that is 24.4% ahead of the old group of developed countries in terms of GDP and purchasing power parity."

On 22 November 2022, he met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. During their discussions, Volodin referred to Cuba as "a symbol of the struggle of independence."

In January 2023, Volodin labeled anti-war Russians in exile as "scoundrels" and called for the confiscation of their property in Russia. He has repeatedly characterized Russians who left the country after the invasion of Ukraine as "traitors."

On 22 January 2023, Volodin issued threats regarding the use of nuclear weapons, claiming that Europe and the United States were leading the world towards "global catastrophe" by providing military aid to Ukraine.

During the Second "Russia-Africa" International Parliamentary Conference, hosted by the State Duma on 19–20 March 2023, Volodin met with over 40 parliamentary delegations from African countries. He asserted that Washington and Brussels aimed to control Russian and African natural resources, continuing their colonial policies, and employed "all measures, including violent and terrorist, for their own benefit." He held bilateral meetings with Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa.

Volodin, pictured with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Moscow on 14 June 2023, and with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on 22 November 2023, has maintained a busy diplomatic schedule.

On 3 May 2023, Volodin denounced the alleged drone attack on the Kremlin as a "terrorist attack" on Russia. He drew parallels between the Ukrainian government and terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, stating, "The Nazi Kyiv regime must be recognised as a terrorist organisation." He called for the use of "weapons capable of stopping and destroying the Kyiv terrorist regime."

On 18 May 2023, Volodin asserted that the "special military operation" in Ukraine was "inevitable." He argued that its initiation prevented a war that would have erupted "literally the following day or in a few days, would have dragged the world into a tragedy." He accused NATO, the United States, and the European Union of "waging war in Ukraine," claiming that "NATO assumed control over Ukraine, brought its mercenaries there both to power and to the battlefield."

On 3 June 2023, Volodin represented Russia at the inauguration ceremony of re-elected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

On 19 June 2023, Volodin misrepresented remarks made by Czech President Petr Pavel regarding the need for Russians living in the West to be "monitored," warning that Russians abroad would be sent to concentration camps.

Volodin expressed his support for President Putin during the Wagner Group rebellion.

In October 2023, Volodin suggested that Russians who "desire the victory of the murderous Nazi Kyiv regime" should be exiled to the far-eastern region of Magadan, an area historically associated with Stalin-era Gulag camps, and compelled to work in the mines. In November 2023, he posted on Telegram that Russians who departed the country after the invasion of Ukraine and are now returning "should understand that no one here is waiting for them with open arms" because they "committed treason against Russia."

On 22 November 2023, he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Volodin characterized Russia and China as not only "strategic partners, but also strategic friends." Their discussions focused on deepening cooperation within international platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the BRICS group, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

On 16 February 2024, Volodin attributed the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny to "Washington," "Brussels," and various Western critics of the Kremlin in "unfriendly countries."

On 6 July 2025, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation adopted a resolution deeming the 1956 report "On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences," delivered by Nikita Khrushchev, to be erroneous. Volodin lauded this decision, stating that the report had fostered a "negative attitude" towards Stalin, who he credited with "all" efforts to win the Great Patriotic War and build the state.

Volodin has asserted that the death penalty is a just punishment for Ukrainian authorities, whom he has labeled as a "neo-Nazi regime" and "fascists."

2017 rumours of Volodin as president

On 20 April 2017, during a meeting chaired by President Vladimir Putin concerning Victory Day preparations, Andrey Chepurnoy, head of the Organization of Veterans of the War in Afghanistan, criticized Senator Frants Klintsevich, Chairman of the Russian Union of Veterans of Afghanistan. Chepurnoy referenced a letter from Klintsevich that identified Volodin as the next President. In response, Putin stated that "the successor to the President is determined only by the Russian people in the democratic elections—and no one else." Klintsevich later denied Chepurnoy's account, calling it slander. However, a member of the Moscow organization "Safe Capital" claimed that Klintsevich had indeed spoken of Volodin's presidential ambitions, recounting that Klintsevich had told their organization in 2016, "it is necessary to support Volodin in all his endeavors, because he, according to Klintsevich, will be the next President of Russia." Political scientist Stanislav Belkovsky opined that Volodin possesses presidential ambitions but would only consider becoming president if Putin offered him the position, rather than seeking to replace him.

Honours and awards (selection)

Volodin receiving the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 4th class in 2006. Volodin receiving the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 1st class in 2024.

See also