Putin's Right-Hand Man's Absence Raises Questions
The notable absence of Sergei Lavrov, Russia's veteran foreign minister, from a critical Kremlin meeting and the recent G20 delegation has sparked rumors that he may have lost favor with President Vladimir Putin.
Analyzing Kremlin Hierarchy Through Body Language
During Soviet times, Western analysts closely studied video footage of official events such as military parades on Red Square to deduce the Kremlin's power dynamics. Observers paid attention to proximity to the leader and body language to gauge which officials were influential or sidelined.
Much remains the same today. Kremlin watchers have focused on Wednesday's landmark Security Council meeting, where Putin instructed his top officials to begin drafting plans for a potential nuclear weapons test — a meeting from which Sergei Lavrov was notably absent.
Unusual Absence from an Important Meeting
Lavrov was the only permanent Security Council member missing from the session, prompting speculation about his status within the inner circle. The Russian business daily Kommersant reported that his absence was “coordinated.”
"Not one you'd expect a trusted lieutenant to miss."
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Author's summary: Sergei Lavrov's exclusion from key Kremlin events signals possible shifts in Putin's inner circle, reflecting a nuanced power reshuffle behind closed doors.