Putin under pressure in Russia: These men are traded as possible successors
Created: 05/10/2022 04:57
By: Tim Vincent Dicke
The Ukraine war puts Putin in trouble.
In the background, potential successors are getting ready – with an even sharper course against the West.
Moscow – The Russian President is under massive pressure due to the slow progress of the war in Ukraine.
It is true that there are no clear signs that Vladimir Putin could soon be deposed in Russia.
Nevertheless, there are repeated reports of dissatisfaction among the elites of the secret service and the military - numerous oligarchs have also lost a lot of money as a result of the Ukraine war.
Due to the developments, observers are asking themselves who could be a potential successor to Putin.
The US magazine
Politico
has taken the trouble to list men who could be potential future incumbents.
Each candidate is rated: one to five Kremlin points for the probability of reaching the presidency, and a maximum of five atomic bomb points for the scary factor of the respective person.
Russia: Former KGB as Putin's successor?
Politico
gives pole position to
the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev .
The medium gave him three Kremlin points, making him the most likely candidate.
The 71-year-old works in the background and is considered to be Putin's whisperer.
Like the Kremlin boss, Patrushev was an agent of the feared Soviet secret service, the KGB.
Both men have known each other since the 1970s.
Nikolai Patrushev has known Russian President Vladimir Putin for decades.
© Sergei Karpukhin/AFP
Should Putin's term come to an end early and Patrushev take over, the western hemisphere would not be happy.
The secret service man is considered a hardliner and despises the United States.
According to the
Tagesschau
, he was "obsessed" with the idea that the West wanted to split Russia.
His statements have become increasingly somber in recent years.
According to Patrushev, Nazis would rule Ukraine and the country would have to be annexed to Russia.
Politico
awards almost full marks for the scary factor: four out of five nuclear bombs.
Medvedev: From Western hopes to hardliners in Russia
Dmitri Medvedev is also being traded as Putin's successor.
The deputy chairman of the Security Council is a close ally of the president, and Putin trusts him.
Medvedev was President of Russia from 2008 to 2012, then Prime Minister until 2020.
The magazine gives him two Kremlin points for the likelihood of making it to the top.
Vladimir Putin: The political career of the Russian head of state in pictures
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But how does the 57-year-old tick?
He used to be seen in the West as a liberal reformer who was supposed to strengthen Russia economically and thus lead it into a prosperous future.
But this image has completely disappeared, and Medvedev has radicalized his rhetoric in recent years.
He recently threatened the West with the use of nuclear weapons.
"Let's imagine that Russia is forced to use the most fearsome weapon against the Ukrainian regime, which has committed a large-scale act of aggression dangerous to the existence of our state," the politician wrote on Telegram.
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However, the magazine does not believe in his radicalization.
Medvedev just wants to shake off his image as "Putin's less evil twin."
The nuclear threats in the Ukraine conflict are only a political urge to gain recognition.
Two atomic bomb points.
"Putin's bloodhound" Kadyrov: Escalation guaranteed
Should Putin be supported by the military, the country's "strong men" would probably have the best chance.
Among them the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who became known as "Putin's bloodhound".
With a repressive management style, he rules in the Chechen republic.
Homosexuals and members of the opposition are persecuted, tortured and murdered.
He propagates a form of state Islamism - not only the religion is in the foreground, but also the personality cult around Putin and Kadyrov himself.
The Chechen believes in "Satanists" who have seized power in the West.
To fight these "diabolical forces", he sends fighters from all over Russia to Ukraine.
“Together with Chechen volunteers, they fight against satanists for the benefit of the people.
And I am very happy that the contingent of those who want to join the ranks of the units is growing every day," Kadyrov wrote on Telegram.
"Putin's bloodhound" Ramzan Kadyrov (photo from March 2022) © Yelena Afonina/Imago
The US media gives the ruler five atom points.
Kadyrov leaves no stone unturned to consolidate this image.
He called on Putin to investigate the use of low-yield tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
The ruler recently announced that he would send his sons aged 14 to 16 to the Ukraine war.
"We are convinced that even underage children will be able to beat you to pieces," he threatened the other side.
Possible successor?
"Putin's cook" breaks the fear scale
Only Yevgeny Prigozhin would be more worrying.
Known as "Putin's cook", the Russian entrepreneur is the founder of the notorious mercenary group "Group Wagner".
The paramilitary organization uses Russia for covert operations and hybrid warfare.
Although the troops always implement Russian interests, the Kremlin can rule out state involvement.
The “Wagner Group” is accused of numerous war crimes – not only in Ukraine, but also in Libya.
The well-informed Russia expert Christo Grozev wrote on the short message service Twitter in September: "The Wagner people tell me that they would prefer him to Putin anytime and I have the impression that he smells blood." Grozev works at the investigative Platform
Bellingcat
, has contacts in the Kremlin and with Russian secret services.
But Politico
doesn't think the mercenary leader has any good chances
: he only gets one Kremlin point.
For this he breaks the horror scale: six nuclear points.
(tvd)