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| 21 января, 2013 | | | Читать на сайте издания |
TOP 20. The Best Political Consultants in Russia
'Obshaya Gazeta' publication
For the seventh year running ‘Obshchaya Gazeta.RU’ has compiled and is publishing the rankings of the people who run the electoral process in Russia.
As always, we are not talking here about well known politicians and statesmen, but political consultants and advisers – the people who create the image of the politicians that we see before us; the people who create the parties and help them win elections; the people who are the ideologists and organisers of political campaigns and ‘popular’ policies. In 2013, the first year of the Single day of voting which will bring together all the important regional election campaigns - we are continuing our project.
Assessment of the ratings of political consultants was carried out by our journalists, specialists and regional correspondents throughout the second half of 2012. We decided to bring out the results of our study at the start of the new political season. We are publishing them today and one can see from analyzing them who exactly is ‘running’ the Russian elections and political campaigns and how effective they are.
A survey was carried out among one hundred serving politicians, political consultants, Members of Parliament and journalists. The participants were asked to name who they themselves considered to be the ‘Twenty leading Political Consultants’ in the country. The rating was based on how often a name cropped up on that list and where. The participants were warned that they could only name ‘competent political consultants’ in other words those people who specialise in shaping public opinion and who organize electoral and political campaigns.
As in previous years the following professions were excluded from the list:
1. The President and Prime Minister of Russia.
2. Important politicians (eg S Ivanov, I Shuvalov, V Surkov, S Narishkin, V Matvienko etc.)
3. Party leaders (eg G.Zyuganov, S.Neverov, V Zhirinovsky, S Mironov etc.)
4. Political consultant experts not working in the sphere of political technology (eg S Markov, M Remizov, B Mezhuev etc.)
5. Sociologists (eg V Fedorov, A Oslon etc.)
6. Journalists and leading figures in the mass media (eg K Ernst, V Kulistikov, A Gabrelianov etc.)
There were significant changes from last years’ rating.
1. Vyacheslav Volodin.
100 mentions. First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration; in charge of Domestic Policy. He is credited with the idea of ??creating the All-Russian People’s Front (ONF). Declares that politics is more important than political technologies. however unlike his predecessor Vladimir Surkov, he relies on political technology techniques and pumping resources into loyal political power players (especially the "United Russia" and the ONF). Ensured a favourable outcome for Putin in the presidential election and ensured a victory for "United Russia" in the first governor’s elections in October 2012.
2. Dmitry Peskov
96 mentions. Press Secretary to the President of the Russian Federation, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration. His opinion is greatly respected by Putin. The brains behind numerous PR events by Putin. A skilled manipulator of public opinion. Has a very significant influence on national TV channels.
3. Oleg Morozov
93 mentions. Head of Domestic Policy of the Presidential Administration. Architect of the "new course" of political parties. "Chief negotiator" between the Kremlin and the Opposition. The formation of a ‘cartel’ of four parliamentary parties was primarily down to Morozov. Fields and consolidates many contentious issues within the Duma.
4. Konstantin Kostin
88 mentions. Chairman of the Board of The Civil Society Development Foundation. He controls the Rykov and Gorshenin media groups as well as running a large organization which, in many ways has superior resources to that of O. Morozov. Has long been a close associate of Vladimir Surkov, Deputy Head of the Department of Domestic Policy in the Presidential Administration. Personally led major campaigns (particularly in Sochi against Boris Nemtsov). Currently focused on assisting V. Volodin, but maintains relations with Vladislav Surkov. Chief operator of the presidential administration in the regional elections of 2012 when he controlled (along with S. Neverov and A. Anisimov) the selection and placement of political consultants. Strives to take personal control over the political consultant market and recently came up with the idea of creating an "Atlas of Political Consultants."
5. Natalia Timakova
85 mentions. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Government. It was Timakova who initiated new means of communication with the people for Dmitri Medvedev (blogs, Twitter and so on.) which were later adopted by other political leaders. Timakova coordinated the "pro Medvedev" campaign and was author of key statements and initiatives by the former president. Took personal control of liaising with RIA "News" and the TV news channel "Rain." She is gradually losing influence as Dmitri Medvedev’s power base wanes.
6. Dmitry Orlov
74 mentions. Director of the "Agency of Political and Economic Communications", a member of the Supreme Council of "United Russia", a confidant of Putin. Owner of the "Regional Comments" website and other resources. Relies on expert networks. Focused on V. Volodin. Actively works as political consultant and electoral technology in the regions (most notably in Volgograd) and CIS countries. Author of numerous pro-government reports, one of which suggested a strategy which was implemented by the Kremlin in the presidential elections. Compiled 'Rating of 100 Leading Politicians’ and ‘Rating of Influential Governors.’
7. Alexei Anisimov
72 mentions. Deputy Chief of Domestic Policy. In charge of "electoral" regions.
8. Radium Khabirov
69 mentions. Deputy Chief of Domestic Policy. In charge of work within the Parties.
9. Timur Prokopenko
66 mentions. Deputy Chief of Domestic Policy. In charge of mass movements and youth organizations.
10. Konstantin Kalachev
63 mentions. Head of "Political Expert Group." Creator of the "Beer Lovers Party," one of the most prominent political consultants of the 90’s; former deputy-mayor of Volgograd. He was one of the main political strategists of the "United Russia" Party. Conducts campaigns in Russian regions. Compiled "Index on the eligibility of governors."
11. Andrew Gnatiuk
60 mentions. President of the "IMA Group." Contractor of the majority of PR-projects by the former Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, has retained that role under the new Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Conducted (with Bunin) a campaign for elections to the Moscow City Duma in 2009 and the campaign of "United Russia" in Moscow in 2011 - the results of both caused a huge outcry. Controls the main all-Russian award for PR achievements - «Silver Archer."
12. Dmitry Badovsky
58 mentions. Chairman of the Board of Directors' Institute for Socio-economic and political problems; close to the ONF. Former adviser to Yuri Luzhkov. During the presidential election campaign he was deputy head of internal policy of the Presidential Administration. Focused on V. Volodin. In charge of the presidential administration’s work with the expert community and humanitarian projects. Compiled a sensational report on the governor’s elections.
13. Evgeny Minchenko
56 mentions. President of "Minchenko Consulting". Political consultant, lobbyist. Author of the famous report on "Putin's Politburo." Prepared and published "Rating on the Political Survival of Governors."
14. Eugene Suchkov
55 mentions. Director of the "Institute for Electoral Systems," in the past, a major functionary with ATP. Works together with E. Malkin (and earlier with E. Malkin and V. Poluektov). Non public political strategist with a great portfolio and high performance record. In recent years there has led electoral and political campaigns in the Ukraine, Bashkiria and Astrakhan. Co-author of the classic book "Political Technology."
15. Gregory Kazankov
53 mentions. Emerged from Y Rusovoy’s team. Known as a political consultant close to "United Russia".
16. Igor Bunin
49 mentions. President of the "Centre for Political Technologies." Owner of the site "Politkom.ru." Founder (along with J. Mintusovym, Sitnikov, E. Suchkov) of the political consulting market in Russia. Long-term consultant to Yuri Luzhkov (and then to S. Sobyanin), and to the "United Russia" Party in Moscow. Together with I Yurgens, schooled influential political figures and the expert community on how to put Dmitri Medvedev forward for the post of President. Currently focused on Kudrin. Author of books and research reports.
17. Stanislav Belkovsky
47 mentions. President of the "National Strategy Institute." Political strategist and chief ideologue of the radical opposition; consultant to Berezovsky; strategist and organizer of protest rallies.
18. Modest Kolerov
45 mentions. Co-owner of the information agency "Regnum". In the past, Head of Interregional and Cultural Relations of the Presidential Administration. Political consultant specializing in CIS markets.
19. Gleb Pavlovsky
43 mentions. President of the "Foundation for Effective Politics’. For many years the Kremlin’s leading ideologist and political technologist. Advised on Prokhorov's presidential election. He participated in almost all the protest rallies.
20. Mikhail Vinogradov
41 mentions. President of the "Petersburg Politics." Part of the inner circle of K. V. Surkov and K Kostin, while also co-ordinating with the Kudrin Fund. Works with ‘siloviks’ (politicians who formerly worked for the security services) from the Urals. Relied on Medvedev's nomination for president, in one of his reports he wrote about his election as a foregone conclusion. Like G. Pavlovsky, participated in many protest rallies. Compiled 'Rating on the Political Survival of Governors’(with E. Minchenko).
The following political consultants also had over 20 mentions each: A. Chesnakov, A. Bogdanov, I. Mintusov, I. Mitkin (Spokoinov), A. Troubetzkoy, E. Malkin, S. Markelov, V. Poluektov, O. Matveychev, Mikheev , Sitnikov, S. Mikheyev, A. Bakov, D. Gusev, E. Ostrovsky.
