In surprise shake-up, Putin appoints ‘PR specialist’ Alexander Khinshtein, co-author of anti-LGBT legislation, to lead embattled Kursk region

Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed State Duma deputy Alexander Khinshtein as acting governor of the Kursk region, which has been partially occupied by Ukrainian forces since August 6.

A video shared by the Kremlin’s press service shows a meeting between the two men in which Putin recalls that Khinshtein served as an advisor to the director of Russia’s National Guard from 2016 to 2018. “In this regard, I would like to offer you the position of acting governor of the Kursk region, considering the current need for crisis management there,” the president says.

Telegram channel Faridaily noted that Khinshtein will be the Kursk region’s third governor this year, adding that it’s not clear what “crisis management” experience Putin thinks he has: “He’s a professional PR specialist (in the State Duma he led the Information Policy committee) who had a brief stint in PR work for [National Guard chief] Viktor Zolotov,” the channel wrote.

Khinshtein is also known for co-authoring Russia’s law banning “LGBT propaganda” and for his role in the Russian authorities’ Internet censorship measures, among other things.

According to Putin, as the Kursk region is gradually “liberated,” its governor will have to focus on restoring affected areas where the Ukrainian Armed Forces are currently conducting operations and on organizing assistance for local residents.

The decree appointing Khinshtein notes that his predecessor, Alexey Smirnov, resigned “of his own accord.” Smirnov had served as acting governor since May 2024 and won the gubernatorial election in September.

Russian Transport Minister Alexander Smirnov, who served as Kursk governor until May 2024, said Smirnov’s resignation was due to difficulties “establishing communication with people” in recent months.

Commenting on the surprise replacement on Friday, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Smirnov had resigned voluntarily and said he will “take on another role, though it’s not yet known what that role will be.” He added that he doesn’t view Khinshtein solely as a “crisis manager” but as someone who will work “comprehensively and for a long time.”