Russia has announced the start of a nationwide competition that it says will uncover a new generation of bureaucrats.

Top Kremlin official Sergei Kiriyenko said the Leaders of Russia programme would provide a “vertical lift” for ordinary citizens. There would be no more excuses for “sitting on sofas and complaining”, he told journalists yesterday: “Now it’s all down to the individual.”

The competition is open to all Russians under 50 who already have some managerial experience. Candidates will go through four rounds of regional selection before a final in Moscow early next year decides the top 100. Winners will receive grants, training and tutelages under ministers and leading government officials.

The deputy head of the Presidential Administration revealed the new plan had come from the very top. Russian President Vladimir Putin was, he said, interested in “supporting the most promising citizens of our country”.

Russia’s leader has not formally declared his intention to run in presidential elections next March. But it seems likely that Mr Putin, 65 last weekend, will place youth and regeneration at the heart of any possible campaign.

Key speeches have hinted at a youth-oriented agenda, with new interest in cryptocurrency and the internet. In September, Mr Putin made an unexpected appearance at the Moscow headquarters of tech giant Yandex. It was later revealed that Kremlin staff had asked for the president to be surrounded by young employees at all times.

Russia protests on Vladimir Putin’s birthday Show all 12 1 /12 Russia protests on Vladimir Putin’s birthday Russia protests on Vladimir Putin’s birthday An opposition activist wearing a rubber mask depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin walks past gift boxes with lettering reading “trial”, “resignation”, “impeachment”, “true election” and others during an event dedicated to Putin’s 65th birthday in downtown Moscow, October 7 2017 AFP/Getty Russia protests on Vladimir Putin’s birthday Demonstrators holding yellow ducks are interviewed by journalists as they arrive for the rally AP Russia protests on Vladimir Putin’s birthday A demonstrator chats slogans during the unauthorized anti-Kremlin rally called by jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny AFP/Getty Russia protests on Vladimir Putin’s birthday Demonstrators shout slogans and wave Russian flags during the rally in Moscow AP Russia protests on Vladimir Putin’s birthday Demonstrators in downtown Moscow hold a poster which reads “We demand a fair election”. AFP/Getty Russia protests on Vladimir Putin’s birthday Demonstrators walk down Tverskaya street during the unauthorized anti-Kremlin rally AFP/Getty Russia protests on Vladimir Putin’s birthday Riot police block an area AFP/Getty Russia protests on Vladimir Putin’s birthday Demonstrators clench their fists during the rally. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny has worked to organize protests in support of his presidential bid across Russia on Saturday AP Russia protests on Vladimir Putin’s birthday Demonstrators gather near a monument of Russian poet Alexander Pushkin AFP/Getty Russia protests on Vladimir Putin’s birthday Demonstrators march and wave a Russian flag AFP/Getty Russia protests on Vladimir Putin’s birthday A topless activist from the feminist group Femen depicts American actress Marilyn Monroe singing the “happy birthday” song EPA Russia protests on Vladimir Putin’s birthday “On the birthday of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Femen wants to remind the world of the threat that it bears to all of us, and not only to those countries where it has now launched bloody wars,” Femen said. AFP/Getty

Mr Putin has also embarked on a hyperactive hiring-and-firing spree. In the space of a few weeks, nine of Russia’s 85 governors have been dismissed. More new faces are likely to appear as the elections near.

On Friday, Bloomberg reported that a shake-up is expected at the very heart of government. Moves are already underway to replace Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, the news agency said. Elvira Nabiullina, the Governor of Russia’s central bank, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin and Industry Minister Denis Manturov were the leading contenders.

Underwhelming economic performance continues to provide problems for the Kremlin. Projected GDP growth is far from the 7 per cent average enjoyed in Mr Putin’s first two terms, and real terms incomes have fallen 15 per cent since Crimea. Young Russians are finding opportunities more limited than generations before.

The “Leaders” initiative is designed to address those vulnerabilities, suggested Mr Kiriyenko.