An investigation shows that President Putin has helped a record number of relatives to obtain positions in government and state companies, consolidating nepotism in Russia.

A new investigation conducted by independent journalists from Proekt reveals that nepotism in Russia is encouraged at the highest levels, with President Vladimir Putin helping a record number of relatives to obtain positions in government and state companies. The project has identified at least 24 relatives of Putin who receive income from the state budget, including his daughters, Maria Vorontsova and Ekaterina Tikhonova, and cousins such as Evgeny and Igor Putin. Additionally, members of the families of Putin's four known lovers have been employed in state positions.

The investigation highlights that Anna Tsivileva, Putin's niece, holds the position of Deputy Minister of Defense, while her husband, Sergey, is the Minister of Energy. Other relatives, such as Mikhail Putin and Viktor Khmarin, hold high positions in Gazprom and in the state hydropower company RusHydro. Journalists from Proekt estimate that Putin has set a record in terms of the number of relatives employed in state positions, surpassing the previous record set by Boris Yeltsin, who placed only five relatives in high positions. The publication will continue to reveal details about these nepotistic relationships.