The Kremlin has come under criticism from the West over an increasing number of close presidential associates being appointed to leading posts in Russia's state-controlled companies, many of which dominate key sectors including energy.
Vladislav Surkov said, "These people are changeable. When the country's leadership changes, and other political forces come to power, they will probably change these people. I do not see any problems with this."
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev chairs the board of energy giant Gazprom, while another Kremlin deputy chief of staff, Igor Sechin, chairs the board of state-owned oil company Rosneft. Presidential chief of staff Sergei Sobyanin was recently appointed chairman of TVEL, Russia's leading producer and supplier of nuclear fuel for power plants.
Surkov said that state companies worldwide are run by state representatives.
"This is normal... These people are here today, gone tomorrow. They serve, they are not owners. So they cannot pose any political threat," he added.
