Set between July 1999 and January 2000, the story revolves around Russian presidential candidate Igor Komarov, head of the right-wing Union of Patriotic Forces (UPF).

The document contains extremely sensitive information regarding Komarov's future policies as president, such as the restoration of slave camps, creation of a one-party state, destruction of political opponents, invasions of the former Soviet republics, and genocide of Russia's ethnic and religious minorities.

He returns to Russia and rounds up a ring of influential figures to his cause by showing them the "Black Manifesto", and, with the aid of the Chechen mafia, whose leader owes Monk his life, he begins a series of schemes aimed at derailing Igor Komarov's presidential campaign.

Ames, a Central Intelligence Agency operative, had exchanged secrets to Soviet agents for money; his actions figure in the plot of Icon.

After extensive research, Prince Michael of Kent (unnamed in the novel, but safely identifiable thanks to several key biographic details and personal characteristics) as the leading candidate, based on affiliation to the Orthodox faith and biological connection to Greek royals and Russian Romanovs.

He agrees to take up the post, pending on the consent of the Russian people and Queen Elizabeth II, and eventually assumes the throne in early 2000.