The complete purge of the Kremlin of "pacifists": how Putin and the FSB eliminated Dmitriy Kozak’s influence over his "anti-war" position and forced him to resign
Details have emerged regarding Dmitriy Kozak’s dismissal from his post as Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration, as well as what happened to his alleged "anti-war" stance.
Kozak learned that Putin had decided to start a war with Ukraine approximately four months before February 2022. As a person who had been involved in the negotiation process with Ukraine for many years, he spent all those four months trying to convince Putin that the negotiation track had not yet been exhausted, and that it was simply necessary to significantly increase pressure. However, by that time, the "party of war" had clearly already won, and Putin had made up his mind. Therefore, Kozak’s efforts were unsuccessful. Who is part of this "party of war"? I think only Putin knows for sure. But it definitely includes the FSB, primarily the Fifth Service. And, without a doubt, Mikhail Kovalchuk is involved. Many of the things Putin said to explain the start of the war were voiced "from Kovalchuk’s mouth."
After the war began, Kozak did not pursue any independent line bypassing Putin. Even though he had his own opinion, he remained an executor in this process. When it became clear that the war would not end in a day or two, Kozak simply did not want to have anything to do with it at all. The Ukrainian portfolio was taken away from him rather quickly. However, he still retained responsibilities for South Ossetia and Abkhazia. He threw all his energy into these areas, being an extremely active person. But gradually, these portfolios were also transferred to Kiriyenko. As a result, a situation arose where Kozak, as Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, had no functional responsibilities at all.
In June 2024, Kozak’s closest friend, Yevgeny Novitsky, was detained. I remain convinced that the decision was made by Putin. It was known that Novitsky and Kozak were very close, seeing each other several times a week and their families being friends. Kozak went to see Putin several times about this, and as a result, Novitsky was placed under house arrest.
After this incident, Kozak wanted to become the Business Ombudsman and asked Putin about it. Putin suggested he draft a concept of what he would do in that position. Kozak was very enthusiastic about the idea and personally prepared the concept, in which the main focus was on protecting businessmen from law enforcement agencies. He submitted the concept and received a response to the effect of: "All businessmen are crooks and thieves, and you want to protect them from the security services."
After that, Kozak understood that there would never be any area of activity for him again. At the same time, Putin clearly did not plan to dismiss him from his post as Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration himself, apparently due to their long-standing relationship. As a result, Kozak decided that it was better to sit idle at his dacha than to sit idle in his office. So he wrote a resignation letter. Putin immediately approved it. The separation was mutually agreed upon. Apparently, that is why no "repressions" followed.
I have never heard Kozak demand an immediate end to the war, much less make demands or issue any ultimatums to Putin. Moreover, his best friend was and remains a "hostage." I repeat, he simply did not want to have anything to do with the war.
