MOSCOW (Realist English). The Higher Qualification Board of Judges (HQCJ) has recommended Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov for the post of chairman of the Supreme Court of Russia, moving him a step closer to becoming the country’s top judge.
Krasnov was the only candidate considered by the board. The discussion lasted less than 10 minutes, with HQCJ chairman Nikolai Timoshin briefly outlining his biography and stressing that Krasnov had received exclusively positive assessments.
Responding to questions, Krasnov said any attempt to pressure judges “must be nipped in the bud,” but cautioned that judicial authority should not create “illusions of impunity.” He also pointed to the lack of consistency in the application of laws across regions as one of the pressing challenges for Russia’s judiciary.
All 26 members of the board present at the session voted in favor of Krasnov’s nomination.
The position of Supreme Court chairman became vacant after the death of Irina Podnosova, who passed away in July at the age of 71 following a serious illness. Podnosova, who replaced Vyacheslav Lebedev in April 2024, was remembered within the court system for her “genuine humanism” during her year-long tenure.
Krasnov applied for the post on August 25, the final day of submissions. Just days earlier, on August 22, President Vladimir Putin awarded him the title of Honored Lawyer of the Russian Federation for his “contribution to strengthening the rule of law and long-standing fruitful work.” Because Krasnov does not hold an academic legal degree, he was required to pass a judicial qualification exam to be eligible.
Krasnov has served as prosecutor general since January 2020. Previously, he was deputy chairman of the Investigative Committee under Alexander Bastrykin, overseeing high-profile criminal cases. His portfolio included investigations into the 2015 assassination of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, the killing of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova, as well as major corruption cases involving former governors Alexander Khoroshavin, Nikita Belykh, Vyacheslav Gaizer, and ex-economy minister Alexei Ulyukaev.
In January 2025, Putin reappointed Krasnov as prosecutor general for another five-year term. If his candidacy for Supreme Court chairman is approved, presidential envoy to the Northwestern Federal District Alexander Gutsan is considered a leading contender to replace him as prosecutor general
