Putin coup?

Expert sees Kremlin boss weakened – but Russia's elite is "powerless" and "atomized"

Created: 06/24/2022, 09:45 am

By: Momir Takac

Vladimir Putin at the military parade marking the 77th anniversary of the end of World War II.

(Archive image) © IMAGO/Mikhail Metzel/Kremlin Pool

Initial support for Putin's war in Ukraine is waning among Russian elites.

Nonetheless, nobody dared to stage a coup against the Kremlin chief.

Moscow/Munich - Vladimir Putin has been in power in Russia for almost a quarter of a century.

But he has never made such a radical decision that would have such a drastic effect on the country: the order to invade Ukraine is undoubtedly a unilateral decision.

The elites are usually privy to important decisions made by Putin, but this time they were left out.

This is leading to a new political reality in Russia, states political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya in an article for the

"The war has caught Russian elites off guard, and Putin's inability to end it quickly and victoriously is radically changing the nature and prospects of internal political processes," she writes.

Ukraine war: Initial support for Putin's "depression" has given way among elites

After the initial shock, the Russian elite gradually “begins to accept and adapt to the new reality and to recognize the sheer hopelessness of the long-term situation,” Stanovaya continues.

Initial support for the Ukraine conflict has now "given way to despondency and a lack of understanding of how the country can ever get back on track."

Stanovaya observes that Putin's authority is "shattered" because he not only made a decision in favor of the Ukraine war based on "miscalculations and errors", but was also unable to win it quickly.

Nevertheless, Putin is said to still have a lot of support from the population.

Coup against Putin?

Expert: Political elite in Russia is 'powerless'

But does that mean Putin has to fear a coup?

No, says the expert.

Although the relationship between Putin and the elites is fragile, the likelihood of a coup is extremely low "because the same feelings of futility and depression go hand in hand with a state of political paralysis," writes Stanovaya.

Nevertheless, there are reports of alleged coup attempts against Kremlin boss Putin.

Because there are no structures or mechanisms to bring about changes in Russia's political system, they remain "politically powerless," the analyst notes: "The Russian elite is atomized." Everyone fears for their future and lives in constant fear of being betrayed .

So Putin remains the "guarantor of stability - although all stability is long gone."