Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Denis Agafonov, formerly the deputy head of the presidential foreign policy department, to lead the department of experts within the presidential administration. The announcement comes from TASS and underscores the ongoing reshaping of the administration’s expert machinery as Moscow places a premium on seasoned policy analysis and project oversight. [Cited: TASS]
Agafonov’s career includes participation in national programs focused on cultivating top-level governance talent. Between 2010 and 2015, he was part of the fourth stream of the federal program Training and Retraining of the Management Personnel Reserve, an initiative designed to refresh the pool of public managers who can tackle complex policy challenges. This experience places him in a cohort of officials repeatedly called upon to contribute to strategic decision making and administrative reform. [Cited: government program records]
Reporting on the reshuffle indicated that the new expert departments within the Presidential Administration would operate under the supervision of Putin’s aides. The leadership arrangement signals an emphasis on direct presidential oversight for high-priority policy areas and the integration of expert analysis with executive decision making. [Cited: official briefings]
In late June, graduates of the RANEPA personnel reserve spoke about Russia’s need for capable managers to implement major projects. The landscape of civil service training, often referred to as the school of managers, reflects an institutional focus on aligning public administration with contemporary governance demands. The reserve program, launched in June 2017, aims to produce a steady stream of capable administrators who can navigate reform agendas and deliver measurable outcomes. [Cited: RANEPA communications]
Since taking office, Putin has overseen the creation of multiple new departments within the presidential administration while also reorganizing or dissolving existing units. The ongoing modernization effort appears to be designed to strengthen coordination, streamline decision making, and ensure that strategic priorities receive direct executive attention. Observers emphasize that this pattern of personnel movement aligns with broader goals of consolidating policy coordination and reinforcing the capacity of the presidency to steer complex national programs. [Cited: commentary from policy analysts]