Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare and unexpected appearance at the funeral of Irina Podnosova, the former Chair of Russia’s Supreme Court, in Moscow. Podnosova and Putin were law school classmates in the 1970s, and she was known as one of his most trusted associates during his early KGB years.
Podnosova passed away on July 22 at the age of 71. A distinguished legal professional, she assumed the role of Supreme Court Chair on April 17, 2024—becoming the first woman ever to hold that position in Russia.
Officials from Reuters reported that Putin attended the funeral on a Thursday in Moscow, a rare departure from his usual avoidance of public events since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On this occasion, he made an exception.
“Putin appeared somber and contemplative as he sat beside Podnosova’s relatives in the Moscow hospital where her open coffin was displayed, surrounded by honor guards,” Reuters noted.
He placed a bouquet of red flowers, crossed himself, and bowed over the coffin before speaking quietly with members of her family.
Old Acquaintances Reunite at Last Farewell
Podnosova and Putin were students together at Leningrad State University (now Saint Petersburg) in the mid-1970s. As Putin rose through the KGB ranks, Podnosova became one of his few trusted allies from that era. After he assumed the presidency, she and others from their circle secured senior positions across Russia’s judicial and political landscape.
Meduza describes Podnosova as a “highly influential figure” in Russia’s judicial system, noting that “everyone knew who was behind her.” Critics also argued that her professional qualifications did not always match the high-ranking roles she received.
In earlier interviews, Podnosova referred to Putin as an unremarkable individual during their university days, calling him “rather nondescript.”
From Local Judge to National Role
Podnosova worked for many years as a city court judge in Luga, a town about 140 kilometers south of Saint Petersburg. She joined the Supreme Court in 2020, rising to its lead in 2024 following the death of long-serving Chair Vyacheslav Lebedev, who had held the position since 1989. Podnosova was the sole candidate for the role.
The cause of her death, like that of her predecessor, was cancer.
