Some prominent Russians quit jobs, refuse to support war

FILE – Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, listens to RUSNANO CEO Anatoly Chubais in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence, outside Moscow, Russia, Monday, Nov. 7, 2016. The resignation of Chubais, who was Putin’s envoy to international organizations for sustainable development, was not the first resignation of a state official over the war with Ukraine, but it was one of the most striking. (AP Photo)

NEW YORK (AP) — The resignation of a senior Russian government official and his reported move abroad wasn’t the first voluntary departure of a person from a state job since the start of Russia’s war with Ukraine, but it certainly was one of the most striking.

Anatoly Chubais, who was President Vladimir Putin’s envoy to international organizations on sustainable development, is well known in Russia.

He held high-profile posts for nearly three decades, beginning under Boris Yeltsin, the first post-Soviet leader.

institutions and companies, which could signal divisions in Russia’s official ranks over the war. So far there have been no indications that the resignations have reached Putin’s inner circle.

Some of the high-profile figures who have turned their backs on the Kremlin because of the war

ANATOLY CHUBAIS

On Wednesday, the Kremlin confirmed media reports about the resignation of Chubais, 66, who was the architect of Yeltsin’s privatization campaign.

The reports, citing anonymous sources, said he stepped down because of the war. He hasn’t publicly commented on his resignation.