Dmitry Kozak speaks at a Russian Security Council meeting on 21 February 2022, three days before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Photo: Kremlin.ru
Dmitry Kozak, a longtime ally of Vladimir Putin, presented a range of reforms aimed at liberalising Russia, including a mass amnesty, to the Kremlin before stepping down from his post in September, according to state-affiliated business news outlet RBC.
Kozak’s proposals reportedly included economic reforms, increasing the independence of the judiciary, and what was described as the “complete depoliticisation” of law enforcement agencies and the security services.
The plan also reportedly envisaged an amnesty for all those convicted of non-violent crimes.
Kozak, who served as deputy head of the presidential administration, did not respond to RBC’s request for comment, while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said he had no information on Kozak’s reform proposals.
Commenting on the reports, Russian journalist in exile Alexander Plyushchev said on Wednesday that he did not believe the apparent leaks were an attempt by Kozak to present himself as a liberal alternative to Putin. Instead, Plyushchev suggested the leaks were more likely linked to an internal power struggle aimed at blocking Kozak’s return or weakening the influence of his allies within the presidential administration.
Kozak resigned as deputy head of Putin’s administration, a position he had held since 2020, in September. Before that, he served as deputy prime minister for over 11 years, and was widely regarded as one of Putin’s closest confidants.
The New York Times (NYT) reported last week that while Kozak remained in Moscow, he briefly travelled to Israel, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates for medical treatment.
According to the NYT, Kozak was the only person in Putin’s entourage to openly oppose the war in Ukraine, having initially refused to follow Putin’s order to urge Kyiv to surrender.
