Sources: Fierce power struggle rages in the Kremlin | World

From the outside everything looks as usual. Putin seems to rule Russia, make decisions and make symbolic visits to different countries. But according to Finnish expert sources Elta Sanomat Putin no longer rules unofficially, and is now on his way out of the role of Russia's official leader.

According to sources, the mastermind behind the Russian government is actually Nikolai Patrushev, Putin's right-hand man.

Nikolai Patrushev was appointed presidential adviser in May, having previously served as secretary of the Security Council.

Patrushev and Putin met in the 1970s in the Soviet intelligence service. Putin later recommended Patrushev as his successor as head of the Russian security service, after he himself became president of Russia in 1999.

Two warring camps

But there is another player – businessman Sergei Chemezov. He is also an old friend of Putin’s since the 1980s, but he has instead gained power in the leadership through Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

Specifically, Sergei Tegmezov is the right-hand man of Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, who allegedly handles large parts of the prime minister's various duties.

According to Ilta Sanomat, there are now two warring camps in the Kremlin: Nikolai Patrushev's camp and Sergei Chemezov's camp.

“It is important to maintain the balance of the masses.”

According to Arkadi Mosz, programme director at the Foreign Policy Institute of Finland, the information sounds familiar.

“It is natural that there are different camps,” Moshes adds. “No matter which country you look at, you find different aspects of government.” Elta Sanomat.

Arkady Moshe says it is important for Putin that no single power bloc in the Kremlin becomes too powerful, as mutual competition protects his position.

According to the newspaper's sources, the fall may bring major changes for the Russian leadership.