New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly considering appointing his younger daughter, Ekaterina Tikhonova, to a significant position within the Kremlin, potentially replacing long-time Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
This move, if realised, would mark the first time a member of the Putin family holds an official government role.
Ekaterina Tikhonova, aged 39, is known to be active in Moscow’s business and political circles. Her name surfaced recently amid speculation about a cooling of ties between Putin and Sergey Lavrov, who has served as Russia’s Foreign Minister for over two decades and is regarded as a shrewd diplomat closely allied with Putin.
Reports indicate that Lavrov has been distanced from Kremlin affairs lately, raising questions about his future in the cabinet.
The Sun quoted Kremlin insider Abbas Gallyamov, who noted a surge in Tikhonova’s activity following the cancellation of the Budapest summit between Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump. Tikhonova is said to be eyeing Lavrov’s post and is actively manoeuvring to secure the position.
Sergey Lavrov, 75, has been a central figure in Russian diplomacy for decades, having served through multiple presidential administrations. He played a key role in several critical diplomatic efforts, including those involving the Syrian civil war and Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Lavrov’s diplomatic acumen earned him Putin’s trust, making him a cornerstone of Russia’s foreign policy.
Tikhonova, the younger child of Putin and his first wife Lyudmila, graduated from St Petersburg State University, where she studied Asian countries extensively. In 2022, she was appointed co-chair of the Import Substitution Coordination Council, a body linked to major Russian enterprises. Her interest now seems to be directed towards international affairs and a formal role within the Kremlin’s “kitchen cabinet.”
Recent reports by The Moscow Times highlighted growing distances between Putin and Lavrov, pointing out that Lavrov was notably absent from a proposed G20 meeting in an African island nation, a meeting for which he was considered the prime candidate. Neither Lavrov nor the Kremlin has officially responded to these developments, though a Kremlin spokesperson suggested that such reports lack substantial evidence.
As Lavrov appears to lose influence, Tikhonova’s ascent corresponds with a shift in the Kremlin’s inner circle, with some speculation that she has formally raised concerns about Lavrov with President Putin himself. However, no final decision has been made on her appointment as of now.