Putin dismisses longtime ally Kozak from Kremlin administration

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Dmitry Kozak, deputy head of the presidential administration and a longtime ally, according to a decree published on the government’s legal acts website.

Kozak submitted his resignation over the weekend and is considering offers to move into business, business daily RBC reported. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later confirmed that Kozak had asked to step down of his own accord.

Kozak, a lawyer by training, worked with Putin since the 1990s in St. Petersburg and later held senior posts including envoy to the southern federal district, minister for regional development and deputy prime minister. He returned to the presidential administration in 2020, overseeing policy toward post-Soviet states including Ukraine.

In August, part of his responsibilities was handed to Sergei Kiriyenko, first deputy head of the administration. The New York Times has reported that Kozak was among the few officials to oppose the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and later urged Putin to pursue peace talks.