Russian President Vladimir Putin (69) appointed a new minister for civil protection on Tuesday. According to a statement from the Kremlin, Major General Alexander Kurenkov (49) is to take over the authority. Kurenkov is an old acquaintance. He used to protect Putin as a bodyguard.
Not much is known about the 49-year-old. The man is said to have served with the Russian secret service FSB, but this information is unconfirmed. In addition, he is said to have been a teacher in the past. Kurenkow is therefore also nicknamed “The Man Without a Face”.
The 49-year-old is the sixth former bodyguard of the Russian president to take on a high-ranking ministry post. A Kremlin spokesman told the state news agency Interfax: “Putin personally knows Alexander Kurenkov very well.” According to Putin, Kurenkov’s “personal and professional qualities” would allow him to serve as Minister for Emergencies.
Predecessor died tragic death
Kurenkov’s predecessor in the Ministry of Emergencies was also a bodyguard. Yevgeny Sinichev († 55) died a tragic death last year. He jumped off a cliff in the fall to save a filmmaker. Sinichev himself died in the process.
Putin appeared unusually agitated at Sinichev’s funeral. He spoke of an “incomparable personal loss”. Sinichev and Putin are said to have been very close. (zis)