Putin's potential heir: Former bodyguard's rise to Kremlin prominence

Is there a successor to Putin? Media outlets worldwide suggest the dictator's former bodyguard might be groomed for this role. Aleksey Dyumin has been part of the Kremlin scene from the start, but it's only now that he's stepping into the role of special assistant. Therefore, he's seen as a likely candidate for Putin's deputy.

Vladimir Putin was inaugurated in Russia just a week ago. Despite this, the dictator is already making significant and unexpected changes within his cabinet. One of the first to lose his position was Sergei Shoigu, the Minister of Defence. This appears to be just the beginning of many changes to come.

According to the British newspaper The Sun, another significant reshuffle might be on the horizon in the Kremlin. This term's special assistant to Putin is expected to be his former bodyguard. At 51, he has been by the Russian leader's side almost from the start. The British press suggests that he might be the one to carry on the president's legacy.

Aleksey Dyumin is no stranger to the Kremlin. He has served as the governor of Tula in the Moscow Oblast. Before this, he held a crucial position in the Federal Protective Service, responsible for the president's safety. It was during this assignment that he became close to Vladimir Putin.

This relationship is notably strong, given that he has been with the president since Putin's first term. It was while serving in this capacity that he reportedly saved Putin's life.

During a secretive vacation in the mountains, they encountered a bear. Dyumin recounts that it was only through his quick actions that the dictator was saved from a potentially fatal attack by the animal. It seems Putin hasn't forgotten this act of bravery and has chosen to reward him for it.