Putin prolongs Bastrykin's tenure as Investigative Committee chief through 2027

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree, published on the government's official legal information portal, prolonging Alexander Bastrykin's tenure as head of the Investigative Committee until August 27, 2027. Bastrykin, who has run the agency since 2011, turns 73 on August 27.

A law built to bypass age limits

Under the law governing the Investigative Committee, the standard maximum service age is 65, with a possible extension to 70 at the agency head's own discretion. In 2024, however, Putin signed a separate law granting himself personal authority to extend the Investigative Committee chief's service beyond age 70. That is the provision he has now used to keep Bastrykin in his post for another year, well past both the original and the extended age thresholds.

A record of high-profile cases

During his time leading the agency, Bastrykin has overseen numerous high-profile criminal investigations, including politically charged cases such as the Bolotnaya Square prosecution and the cases brought against opposition figure Alexei Navalny and his supporters.