In the parlance of our times, Vladislav Surkov is Russia’s very real answer to Frank Underwood – a behind the scenes player, wielding enormous influence over the top echelons of a political system. But to many Russians, he is the “Gray Cardinal;” the 21st century’s equivalent to France’s Cardinal Richelieu. This legendary figure in Russian political circles has held various roles in the Kremlin over the last two decades and has certainly left his mark, being credited with formulating “Sovereign Democracy” to manage Russias political system, as well as coordinating his country’s relationship with Ukraine since 2013.
Despite this reputation (or perhaps because of it) Surkov has managed to maintain a low public profile. When trying to find news articles concerning the man who has variously been described as a “puppet master” and the “hidden author of Putinism,” they are remarkably scarce. When such stories do surface, they usually only mention this shadowy figure in passing, perhaps because of the tendency both within and without Russia to fixate on Vladimir Putin when thinking of Kremlin policies. Despite this, Russia’s political system is more than a one man band.
Some could pass this enigmatic figure off as simply an eccentric. Surkov certainly courts such an image on Twitter (@SurkovRussia), with his account photo displaying him casually smoking a cigarette as if playing up to the Hollywood stereotype of a Russian “bad guy” and his account’s biography referring to his shadowy reputation. To look at the mere 66 accounts he follows, they include the usual Kremlin accounts, but also those of Presidents Obama and Poroshenko, as well as formerly incarcerated oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Also followed are parody accounts of President Obama and Queen Elizabeth II, and fan accounts for Tupac, Banksy and Game of Thrones’ Tyrion Lannister.
Those who have ventured into his office have reported that he keeps a photo of Tupac on his desk – next to one of President Putin – as well as portraits of Obama and Che Guevara in his study.
Despite his quirks, Surkov clearly has an astute political mind, inspired by the avant garde and American counterculture, supposedly claiming this rebellious anger and applying it to today’s Russia. When he learned that he would be sanctioned by the U.S., he stated that “the only things that interest me in the U.S. are Tupac Shakur, Allen Ginsberg, and Jackson Pollock. I don’t need a visa to access their work.” Those who have ventured into his office have