Radicalization of the Russian elite may be part of Putin’s plan

In Russia, an arch-radical faction of the ruling elite is now trying to come to the fore. Even those high-ranking officials who were previously considered moderates began to attract attention with rather extremist statements. Their behavior may be a sign of panic. This became known from the published report of the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, which analyzed how the Russian leadership behaves against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, writes delfi.ee. Perhaps Russian officials have realized that the war in Ukraine was a huge mistake that cannot be corrected, and now the only way is to continue the fight using increasingly radical methods, the authors of the report say.

In addition, the Foreign Intelligence Service believes that such a radicalization of the political elite may be part of Putin’s plan. In particular, he allows radicals to speak out to show that with his disappearance, an even more extremist group will take the helm. For the same reason, analysts believe, Putin has allowed Yevgeny Prigozhin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadirov to expand their power and gain more popularity among the Russian public.

According to Estonian intelligence, the president of the terrorist country is worried that moderate politicians may present themselves as an alternative to his regime: in order to prevent this, he forces “power figures with a previously moderate image have completely discredited themselves with radical statements”. An example is ex-president Dmitry Medvedev, who was previously considered a relatively liberal politician, now he threatens half of the world with nuclear strikes.

At some point along the way, it may become difficult for oneself to rein in the ultra-radicals inspired by their rising influence. Prigozhin and Kadyrov are particularly dangerous in this context, since they each essentially have their own private army, the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service says.

Recall that due to military failures near Bakhmut, the leader of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, found himself in a rather difficult situation.

Earlier, Professor Stefanie Bock from the International Center for Research and Documentation of War Crimes told under what conditions the path will be brought to justice.