Everything we know about Russia's new PM Mikhail Mishustin, the hockey-playing former tax official who is a key part of Putin's plan to tighten his grip on power
Reuters
Mikhail Mishustin was confirmed as Russia's next prime minister on Thursday.
Mishustin was nominated by Putin for the position after the previous prime minister Dimitri Medvedev resigned on Wednesday.
Medvedev's resignation came amid a proposal for sweeping constitutional reform in Russia from Putin.
Mishustin was formerly the head of the Federal Tax Service, and appears to be fairly unknown publicly in Russia.
Here is everything we know about him so far.
Former tax official Mikhail Mishustin was announced as Russia's next prime minister on Wednesday.
The announcement was made amid a proposal for sweeping constitutional changes from Russia's president Vladimir Putin — a move thought to be a push from Putin to increase his own political power.
Mishustin received 383 votes out of 424 in Russia's parliament, with 41 abstentions and no votes against him, according to Reuters.
53-year-old Mishustin has a reputation for being an efficient technocrat, but is not very well known among the public in Russia, according to Foreign Policy.
Here is everything we know about him so far:
Born in 1966, Mishustin studied systems engineering and holds two PhDs in economics. He is married with three sons.
REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin
Source: CNN, Foreign Policy
He previously held the position of tax minister for five years until 2004. Most recently he was the head of the Federal Tax Service from 2010 until being made prime minister.
Sputnik/Alexey Nikolskiy/Kremlin via REUTERS
Source: Bloomberg
In his most recent role he earned himself a reputation for being very skilled and efficient at his work. Mishustin worked to modernize Russia's previously corrupt and inefficient tax collection system.
REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin/File Photo
Source: The Guardian, Foreign Policy
Mishustin reportedly also has a creative side. He is a pianist and songwriter, and has composed a song for famous Russian singer Grigory Leps.
Sputnik/Alexey Nikolskiy/Kremlin via REUTERS
Source: Guardian
Despite this praise for his work, some controversy has emerged over Mishustin's extraordinary wealth. The investigative site Proekt found that he had bought a house worth hundreds of millions of Russian rubles while working as a deputy tax minister.
Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS
Source: The Telegraph, The Guardian
According to Bloomberg, Mishustin developed a relationship with Putin over their shared love for hockey. He is a member of Putin's Night Hockey League and on the board of Russia's Ice Hockey Federation.
Sputnik/Alexey Nikolskiy/Kremlin via REUTERS
Source: Bloomberg
On Wednesday Russia's previous prime minister Dimitri Medvedev resigned hours after proposals for sweeping constitutional reform were made by Putin.
Sputnik/Ekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS
Business Insider's Sinéad Baker reported that Putin proposed changes that would weaken the powers of the presidency for future presidents, as he is expected to vacate the role in 2024, and strengthen the role of the country's parliament, where he might then move to.
Putin described the move as one that would enhance democracy, but experts believe the move was a calculated one that would only help him keep power over a country that he has led, in some form, since 1999.
Source: The Associated Press
Mishustin was put forward as his replacement by Putin and confirmed by the Parliament on Thursday.
he State Duma, The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation/Handout via REUTERS
Source: Reuters
After the announcement he told Russia's parliament the country must maintain inflation at 4% and preserve macroeconomic stability.
REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina
Source: Reuters
Mishustin is due to release details of who will form his cabinet in the coming days.
The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation/Handout via REUTERS
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