The Russian elite is increasingly dissatisfied with Putin: what is the reason?
Фото: Reuters
Discontent with Russian President Vladimir Putin is growing in Russian government and business circles over the protracted war against Ukraine, economic problems and internet restrictions. Some elites consider the Kremlin’s decisions “self-destructive” and express concern about the situation in the country.
This is reported by The Guardian.
According to the publication, which cites sources close to the Kremlin, as well as European intelligence officers, Russian elites are growing disillusioned with Putin’s policies.
One influential Russian businessperson said that among the elites, “there is a deep disillusionment with Putin” and “a growing sense of impending disaster.”
The publication’s interlocutors claim that Putin does not plan to stop the war against Ukraine, as he is convinced that the Donbas can be completely captured by the end of the year.
“Putin is obsessed with Donbas and will not stop before then,” one of the publication’s interlocutors said.
According to European intelligence, the Russian president is receiving distorted information about the situation on the front. A source familiar with the discussions in the Kremlin said that officials and the military are giving Putin a distorted picture of events.
“Of course, officials and the military paint a rosy picture for the president. They lie to him. This is how the system that Putin built works,” the publication’s interlocutor said.
Sources also reported that if Russia is successful on the front, Putin may try to seize unoccupied parts of the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions.
“He is not a long-term strategist. His appetite increases during meals,” the source claims.
The publication notes that discontent among elites is also growing due to rising inflation, tax increases, and pressure on business.
According to the interlocutors, large-scale Internet blocking and the growing influence of the FSB are causing particular irritation. Representatives of the Kremlin’s political bloc, in particular Dmitry Peskov and Sergei Kiriyenko, tried to convince Putin to ease the restrictions, but to no avail.
“At the dinner table, everyone is talking about the Internet. Now we are somewhere closer to North Korea,” said one Kremlin insider.
By the way, there are more and more signs in Russia that serious conflicts are beginning within the government . One of the former Kremlin associates, Ilya Remeslo, has openly spoken out against Vladimir Putin and stated that he is not going to remain silent.
Earlier, it was reported that Russian leader Vladimir Putin, according to European intelligence, has increased personal security measures and significantly reduced his movements due to fears of a coup or assassination attempt. The report also mentions conflicts among Russian security forces amid attacks in Ukraine and internal tensions in Russia.
Recall that with the coming to power of Vladimir Putin, Russia has turned into a totalitarian state, and the dictator himself is increasingly wary of losing control over the country. Experts note that the fear of a coup indicates the weakness of his regime.
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