Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can ‘imagine a future without him’ — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets
A former senior Kremlin official suggests that Russians are beginning to envision a future without President Vladimir Putin. This shift is reflected in the language used by elites, who have distanced themselves from Putin's actions. The ongoing war in Ukraine and its associated costs have contributed to a growing discontent among the populace and the elite.
- ▪Russians are acknowledging that Putin has led the country to a dead end.
- ▪Elites have stopped expressing solidarity with Putin, indicating a shift in sentiment.
- ▪The regime has seized around $60 billion in assets from private businessmen over the past three years.
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Russians are starting to acknowledge that President Vladimir Putin has led the country to a dead end and can’t shape its future, according to a former senior official in the Kremlin.Recommended Video In a recent Economist op-ed authored anonymously, the former official pointed out that fellow government peers in Moscow, regional governors and businessmen have stopped using the first person plural when describing Putin’s actions. In other words, Russia’s elites found a subtle way to no longer express solidarity with Putin, describing what “he” does rather than what “we” do. That shift took place last spring, but does not signal a rebellion is imminent, the former official added, as the state still controls key levers of repression and fear.
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