Sergey Ivanov, former Russian defense minister and presidential administration chief — once considered a possible successor to Putin — has died
Former Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov has died, according to the VTB United League, where he served as honorary president. He was 73.
Sergey Ivanov is one of the most influential Russian officials of recent decades. At various points he served as deputy prime minister and first deputy prime minister, defense minister, secretary of the Russian Security Council, and head of the presidential administration.
Since 2016, Ivanov had served as the president’s special representative for environmental affairs, ecology, and transport. He also remained a member of the Russian Security Council.
In 2007, Ivanov was considered one of the most likely candidates to succeed Vladimir Putin, but lost the internal power struggle to Dmitry Medvedev.
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