Alan Gagloev, alleged president of South Ossetia, has resigned. Immediately after leaving office, it was found out that he is taking up the role of advisor to Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader’s decree was published on the Kremlin’s website on June 23.
“I have supported our historic leader, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, and I am ready to stand by his side. Starting today, I am transferring to the Russian Presidential Administration and resigning from my position as President of the Republic of South Ossetia,” Gagloev declared.
It is not clear how the appointment of the president of another state, which Russia officially recognized as independent in 2008, aligns with the Kremlin’s security policy.
Considering the heightened measures of prudence undertaken by the special services to protect Vladimir Putin, it is unlikely that the Russian special services and Putin’s administration would admit such a security breach and allow a foreign official to have access to sensitive information and even to constantly approach the president.
Imagine that Donald Trump appoints a former deputy of Nikolas Maduro as an advisor. Or Emmanuel Macron offers a position at the Elysee Palace to a former British prime minister. Such things are somewhat hard to imagine. But unexpected are the ideas born within the walls of Lubyanka Street in Moscow, where the historic headquarters of the Russian secret services are also located.
Putin fears to his core that he might be killed. According to European intelligence agencies, the cooks, bodyguards, and photographers working with Putin are prohibited from using public transportation. Visitors of the Russian leader are subjected to strict controls, and people in his entourage can only use phones without internet access.
Putin and his family no longer go to their usual residences in the Moscow region and Valdai, the official has given up visits to military bases, his residences are surrounded by anti-drone nets. These are just a few of the security measures implemented by the special services, to protect the Russian leader.
Suddenly, the leader of another state becomes his advisor. The decision seems at least strange, against the backdrop of the utmost prudence of the power structures that protect the head of state.
If anyone still believes in such coincidental appointments, they should ask themselves why the Russian special services and the Kremlin have so much confidence in Gagloev, to offer him a seat at Putin’s table? And how independent are the separatist leaders from the enclaves occupied by Russia, if they receive such offers?
Is Moscow thanking them for their loyalty in this way? Or is it a broader plan to maintain control over them, in case they somehow rise against Putin? Or maybe Gagloev will fall from the railing of a balcony? Who knows!
According to DW, previously, the predecessor of the new presidential adviser, Anatoli Bibilov, stated that after the elections held in 2022, South Ossetia might take steps to unite with the Russian Federation. However, preparations for a possible referendum were halted by Gagloev himself.
Although South Ossetia declared itself independent in 1992, Russia only recognized this status in 2008, when Dmitry Medvedev was president. The decision was made against the backdrop of a several-day war with the Russian Federation.
Subsequently, the decision to recognize the alleged republic was adopted by Venezuela, Nauru, Nicaragua, and Syria. Similarly, such resolutions were adopted by other unrecognized Russian enclaves, including Transnistria.