Is Vladimir Putin grooming his ex-bodyguard to be Russia's next president?

Alexei Dyumin is the man much of Moscow speculates is Russian President Vladimir Putin is grooming to be his heir, according to a media report.

Who is the alleged heir? Military hero Dyumin, is the former bodyguard and Putin’s trusted aide-de-camp, according to the Daily Mail.Putin had awarded Dyumin  the Hero of Russia honour for courage during his time in the military.The 43-year-old had commanded the Special Operations Forces of the Russian Army which played a pivotal role in seizing Crimea from Ukraine, it has been reported. There have also been reports he was deputy head of GRU military intelligence for a while.

In December, under Putin’s close ally Sergey Shoygu, he was made Dyumin deputy defence minister. Just a week ago, the  president appointed him governor of the Tula region.  Many speculate Dyumin's fast track to become governor, as a move by Putin for him to gain political experience running a region as big as Waled, for another "big" promotion.

TV and radio presenter Sergey Dorenko believes Dyumin is being groomed as eventual successor to Putin. “I place my bet on Dyumin, without doubt,”  Dorenko is quited as saying by the Daily Mail. According to Dorenko, the ex-bodygaurd is ahead of two other potential candidates - premier Dmitry Medvedev, 50, who served as president for four years between 2008 and 2012, and the governor of Moscow ​Andrey Vorobyov, 45.

Political blogger Anton Orekh said it is very evident Putin’s trusts Dyumin completely. "It is logical to trust those who are so close to you, he said.

Putin must soon decide whether to run for a new six year term in 2018, or hand over the position to a  trusted heir. 

Dyumin was only told of his new position on Wednesday after he "happened to go" meet with Putin. Alexei ​says the move while sudden and unexpected."I am a military man. If my Motherland says 'go ahead', I reply 'Yes,”" he said.