Dmitri, the son of the State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov and the niece of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin , Vera, have launched vigorous political activities in St Petersburg, "the city that has raised two presidents". They intend to create a youth parliament and government, to head up these organisations and to "act as liaisons between young people and the authorities." Izvestia has been learning more about out how this initiative arose. Dmitri Gryzlov and Vera Putina have been spending a lot of time together recently thanks to their joint activities. After appearing together on local cable television they dropped by at a café to exchange their impressions. Contacting Vera Putina turned out to be easy: we called Dima Gryzlov and he passed the phone to her.
"Are you really Vladimir Putin's niece?" we began.
"Yes, but I do not publicize it, our activities with Dmitri Gryzlov are independent, we act on our own and are driven by our inner motives. And anyway, this is beside the point", the young woman replied.
"Are you in contact with your famous uncle?"
"These are family relationships and I would not like to discuss it," Vera said with a finality that reminded us of the Prime Minister.
Vera Putina was born in 1984. For two years now she has been the chief editor of the journal Rossiya Yedinaya, Sankt Peterburg (published by the St Petersburg branch of United Russia). She was among the top 300 participants in the party's "Cadre Reserve" project. "How did I get there? I think you should direct your question to the chiefs of "Cadre Reserve" and ask them what their selection criteria were," Vera replies. Perhaps her high-recognition name was one of the criteria. Now she is planning to head up a youth government. "We will initiate legislation, propose it to the Petersburg legislature and perhaps even to the State Duma," Vera shares their plans. Dmitri Gryzlov recently became the head of the Petersburg Youth Council to be transformed into a youth parliament.
He too will "participate in drafting laws."
"Our Council has been dubbed a puppet council. They say its aim is to secure a place in power for the offspring of big-name leaders, Dmitri told Izvestia. The youth council has no real power at present. But I think the energy which Vera and I will inject in it will help to attract normal people to its ranks."
Dmitri claims that United Russia, one of whose leaders is Boris Gryzlov, has nothing to do with his activities. However, Gryzlov Jr is a member of the party (he even had some problems with the St Petersburg branch of the UR during municipal elections, but these have now been sorted out). Recently he was offered the post of curator of youth policy.
"Does your father support you?"
"He does up to a point. But we work independently," he replied. There is no need to seek my father's support; things are going well as it is. Leaving politics aside, I think he as my father is pleased with me.
Natalya Antipova