Even Yeltsin's Pro-Putin Son-in-Law Turned Away... Resigned from Presidential Advisory Position Last Month

Yuma Chef's Daughter Says "Oppose War" on SNS in February

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Valentin Yumashev, son-in-law of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin who led Vladimir Putin's rise to power, has recently stepped down from his advisory position in the presidential office.

On the 31st (local time), Reuters cited two sources saying, "Yumashev, who contributed to President Putin's ascent to power, has resigned from his advisory role." The exact reason for his departure is not known.

Regarding this, Lyudmila Telen, the chief deputy director of the Yeltsin Presidential Center Foundation, where Yumashev serves as a board member, stated that "he resigned voluntarily."

Yumashev is considered one of the key figures who brought President Putin into the central political arena. Married to Tatiana, daughter of former President Yeltsin, Yumashev served as Kremlin Chief of Staff from 1997 to 1998.

After former Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Chubais and former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin left their key administrative posts, Yumashev was appointed as Chief of Staff.

Subsequently, in 1997, Putin, who caught Yumashev's attention, was appointed as First Deputy Chief of Staff, and in the following year, 1998, Putin began to emerge as Yeltsin's successor.

In 1997, when President Yeltsin was considering his successor, Yumashev actively recommended Putin, saying, "Putin is the best. He should be considered as a candidate. Seeing how he works, it is certain he can handle difficult tasks in the future."

At that time, Putin, a mid-level officer from the Russian State Security Committee (KGB), was appointed as Deputy Chief of the Presidential Executive Office, the core of power, based on Yumashev's full trust from Yeltsin. This promotion became a decisive stepping stone for Putin's rise to the presidency, leading to his appointment as Prime Minister in 1999 and election as President in 2000.

Even afterward, President Putin frequently visited Yumashev's home to celebrate the birthday of Yumashev's wife, Tatiana, daughter of former President Yeltsin. The sudden resignation of Yumashev from his advisory role is largely interpreted as being due to the invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Yumashev's daughter and former President Yeltsin's granddaughter, Maria, posted on Instagram on February 24, the day Russia invaded Ukraine, with the Ukrainian flag and a message opposing the war.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.