Strongmen in Putin’s clan

Behind the walls of Moscow’s Kremlin, power is controlled by the 13-member inner circle of the Security Council. Of these, seven members are siloviki –  “strongmen” with a KGB-military background

So-called siloviki*

Non KGB/FSB members

President Vladimir Putin 16 years in KGB 

Mikhail Fradkov Director of SVR, Foreign Intelligence Service

Dmitry Medvedev Prime Minister. Served as President from 2008 to 2012

Aleksandr Bortnikov Director of FSB

Valentina Matviyenko Federation Council Speaker

Nikolay Patrushev Secretary of Security Council Former Director of FSB

Sergei Lavrov Foreign Minister

Anton Vaino Putin’s Chief of Staff

Sergei Shoigu Defence Minister

Rashid Nurgaliyev Deputy Secretary of Security Council

Boris Gryzlov Permanent member of Security Council

Vladimir Kolokoltsev Interior Minister

*Members of intelligence agencies: KGB, FSK (Federal Counterintelligence Service), FSB (Federal Security Service), MVD (Ministry of Internal Affairs)

Sources: Stratfor, Moskovsky Komsomolets, Institute of Modern Russia, Jamestown Foundation,

Global Security, Komsomolskaya Pravda

Pictures: Associated Press, Getty Images