Mikhail Mishustin is a prominent Russian politician and economist who has been serving as the Prime Minister of Russia since January 2020. Born on March 3, 1966, in Moscow, Mishustin graduated from Moscow State University with a degree in computer science and later earned a PhD in economics. He began his career in the private sector, working for several technology companies before joining the Russian government in 1998.
Mishustin's rise to power has been swift and unexpected. Prior to his appointment as Prime Minister, he served as the head of the Federal Tax Service, where he was credited with modernizing Russia's tax system and increasing revenue collection. In January 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin unexpectedly announced that he was replacing the previous Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, with Mishustin. The move was seen as a surprise to many political observers, as Mishustin was not widely known outside of government circles.
Since taking office, Mishustin has been tasked with leading Russia through a number of significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the country's ongoing economic struggles. He has also been involved in efforts to reform Russia's political system, including proposed changes to the country's constitution that would give Putin greater powers and potentially allow him to remain in office beyond 2024. Mishustin's leadership style has been described as pragmatic and technocratic, with a focus on data-driven decision-making and modernization.