(MOSCOW) – Leonid Kalashnikov, a prominent State Duma deputy, has called for immediate amendments to the Russian constitution to secure the continuity of power, citing fears that the Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin, could be targeted for assassination by Western powers.
Speaking on the state television programme 60 Minutes, Kalashnikov revealed he had recently departed from a committee established for the “liberation” of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro before expressing profound anxiety regarding the safety of the Kremlin leadership.
The deputy argued that the current Russian succession model, which mirrors Western systems by passing authority from the president to the Prime Minister and then to the Federation Council Chair, is dangerously vulnerable. He proposed that the Security Council of Russia should be formally enshrined in the constitution as the supreme governing body, likening it to a modern day Soviet Politburo. Kalashnikov suggested this structural change is essential because the West is now willing to “destroy” heads of state directly, referencing recent geopolitical escalations and the legal pressures facing figures like Donald Trump.
During the broadcast, which was hosted by Olga Skabeeva and Evgeny Popov, Kalashnikov referenced the legal troubles of Donald Trump, questioning why the American president and his wife, Melania, are being subjected to judicial scrutiny. He drew a parallel to the arrest of Cilia Flores, the wife of Maduro, claiming she was mistreated by “democratic America” without international outcry. The deputy further invoked the memory of former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, claiming Chávez was poisoned after his famous United Nations speech where he stated the podium “smelt of sulphur” following a visit by the US president.
The discussion took a darker turn as Kalashnikov asserted that the West is capable of killing “30 people at once” from a nation’s leadership. He stated that while previous leaders in Iraq and Libya were subjected to formal trials or killed by their own citizens, the current international climate allows for the direct elimination of state leaders by foreign powers. Consequently, Kalashnikov insisted that the Russian dictator must cease all international travel, even for peace negotiations. He argued that any future summits should take place within Russia or, at the very least, in Alaska under the protection of Russian military aircraft.
The programme concluded with a sceptical look at international mediation, specifically regarding the death of Iranian leaders. Skabeeva noted that despite ongoing diplomatic rounds in Geneva, the West proceeded with the elimination of key figures. Kalashnikov agreed, reiterating that Russia must abandon “Western systems” of governance and travel to protect the Russian dictator from what he described as a lawless international order.
Russian state TV show “60 Minutes,” featuring host Olga Skabeeva, co-host Evgeny Popov, and State Duma deputy Leonid Kalashnikov.
