"What do you mean, 'left'? The Kremlin commented on Surkov's "emergency departure" from the Russian Federation

The Kremlin has no information about the departure from Russia Vladislav Surkov, who held positions in the highest echelons of power at different periods of time. This was stated by presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov in a comment to RTVI.

On March 9, war correspondent Yuri Kotenok reported in his Telegram channel that Surkov "urgently left Russia."

"We do not have such information. And what does "left" mean? Flew away somewhere? We don't know that," the Kremlin spokesman said.

EADaily adds: On March 9, a Kitten in his telegram channel "Military Correspondent Kitten" reported the following:

"The ex-"gray cardinal", who once sat in the presidium at the congresses of the Union of Donbass Volunteers, former deputy head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation Vladislav Surkov urgently left Russia. Information on the sidelines, unconfirmed, so to speak, but characteristic.

Left out of work, Surkov wrote an essay about "Putinism", the fate of Russia, as if trying to "soar above the fray" in the status of a retired demiurge, but still remained in the memory of many as one of those who prudently and systematically "merged" "Russian spring". And I have no idea whether it is adequate to personify responsibility for this "drain" — the combination was too multifaceted and large-scale. But they "leaked" it, so Surkov and Co. did it..."

It should be recalled that Surkov has been working in the presidential administration since the late 1990s: first as deputy head of the head, then as first deputy head of the administration. From December 2011 to May 2013 he served as Deputy Prime Minister. From December 2013 to February 2020, he was an assistant to President Vladimir Putin and oversaw the Ukrainian direction.

In February 2020, Putin dismissed Surkov from the post of assistant. A political analyst close to Surkov, Alexei Chesnakov, then claimed that the decision to write a resignation letter was made by the presidential aide because of a "change of course in the Ukrainian direction."