2023-06-26 12:13:08
Vladimir Putin. Frame from video
The capture of Rostov, the swift march on Moscow by Wagner PMC mercenaries, and the almost complete lack of resistance to Yevgeny Prigozhin’s rebellion on the part of law enforcement agencies greatly undermined Vladimir Putin’s image in the eyes of the Russian elite. Konstantin Remchukov, editor-in-chief of the Russian Nezavisimaya Gazeta, told The New York Times about this. In his opinion, its representatives may even try to convince him not to participate in the presidential elections in 2024.
The idea that “Putin, being in power, provides stability and guarantees security, has failed in the last 24 hours,” said Konstantin Remchukov:
“If a month ago I was sure that Vladimir Putin would definitely go to the polls, because it is his right, now I see that the elites can no longer feel completely safe.”
According to him, it was very well felt in Moscow on Saturday. Several prominent people fled the capital on the day of the riot, Remchukov said. He himself decided not to go out in his expensive cars – Mercedes or Bentley – fearing that the Wagnerites might take them away if they reached Moscow.
The so-called “Putin’s elite” at the moment of danger rushed to save not Putin, but themselves and their families: the parade of business jets lasted a day, writes a member of the federal council of Yabloko Lev Shlosberg: “These people – both officials and entrepreneurs – believed that Prigozhin would enter Moscow and seize power. They believed that Moscow would be surrendered and Putin’s power would fall. The fear of the elite also showed a very important thing: these people are well aware that people close to Putin can now try to persuade him not to go to the polls, Remchukov believes. In his opinion, after the events of recent days, Putin has completely lost the status of the guarantor of the security and wealth of the elites.
Putin served two presidential terms in 2000-2008, then appointed Dmitry Medvedev as throne holder. After returning to the presidency, Putin extended his terms of office from four to six years; his second six-year term ends in 2024. There is no state for a long time, there is only an imitation. No one will defend the imitation.”
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