GRYZLOV, BORIS VYACHESLAVOVICH

(1950– )

Politician. Born in Vladivostok and raised inVladimirPutin’s hometown ofSt.Petersburg, Boris Gryzlov entered public life in 1998 after a career in radio communications. He allied himself withViktor Zubkovand joined the pro-KremlinUnityparty; he was subsequently elected to theState Duma. Two years later, he was appointed minister of the interior and tasked with the fight againstcorruptionandterrorism. He particularly targeted those he deemed “werewolves in epaulets,” that is, corrupt police officials affiliated with the country’smafia. After 2003, he returned to the legislature, assuming leadership ofUnited Russia, and became chairman of the State Duma. He steadfastly supported Putin’s initiatives as president, and as prime minister of the Russian Federation.

See alsoPolitics.