On the night of the election, Putin gathered around him in his windowless electoral headquarters, as depicted in an illicit YouTube video that appeared online, some of his closest circle. There was Medvedev, Chubays, Kozak, Sergey Ivanov, Reyman, Zolotov, Lesin, Il’ya Klebanov, Surkov, Pavlovskiy, Litvinovich, and a few others. In the video, which was shot by an unknown videographer and released onto YouTube without attribution, Putin sits in the center of the room joking and signing books. There is general merriment—several including Medvedev appear to be the worse for wear. Zyuganov is on the TV in the background complaining about the need for investigation of fraud. No one pays the slightest attention. They talk about how they are already over 50%. Putin and Zolotov have a tête-à-tête at the side of the room, speaking conspiratorially about something “Igor” had said (possibly about Sechin, who was not there), their faces only inches away from each other, with Putin reaching up and straightening Zolotov’s tie as if the general were a mere schoolboy. Later, the conversation turns to the results. Kozak is seen viewing the incoming results on a computer, surrounded by Ivanov, Chubays, Reyman, and Klebanov and he reads out that there are already 62 million confirmed (not spoiled) ballots cast (the total at the end of the day was 75 million). The talk then turns to the various positions that will be meted out, when Putin reminds them that if he’s already been elected president, everyone automatically has to resign and he gets to renew his cabinet, reminding them all who is boss. They watch a prerecorded interview with Putin, in which Putin tells the country that tomorrow they will all be back at work at 10am because “we don’t have the right to relax even for a second.” There was general laughter and back-slapping in the room.
Havighurst Center for East European, Russian and Eurasian Studies
