Russian President Vladimir Putin is wary of the possibility of a coup d'état amidst growing social discontent and economic difficulties in the country.
Modern.az reports that this was written by the British publication “The Telegraph”.
It is noted that the prolonged war with Ukraine, the deepening of Western sanctions, and economic stagnation have increased fears within the Kremlin leadership regarding internal stability.
The Russian economy is on the verge of a quarterly recession. The Central Bank's interest rate hikes have paralyzed businesses, inflation has risen by over 40% since the beginning of the war, and public debt has reached a record level.
According to the forecast of the Russian Ministry of Finance, the budget deficit in 2025 will be equivalent to 2.6 percent of GDP (approximately 5.7 trillion rubles), which is five times more than planned. To address the revenue shortfall, the government is forced to increase tax rates.
From 2026, it is planned to increase VAT to 22 percent and raise domestic borrowing, which will lead to a further increase in public debt.
Fuel prices have risen as a result of Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries, while revenues from oil exports are decreasing.
According to Craig Kennedy, an expert at Harvard University's Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, the debt of military enterprises has already reached 190 billion dollars, which is equivalent to 37 percent of Russia's annual budget.
Analysts state that the Kremlin is becoming economically dependent on China. US President Donald Trump's imposition of new sanctions against “Rosneft” and “Lukoil” has further exacerbated the situation. Following this decision, China and India, the main buyers of Russian oil, have begun to reduce imports, which is a serious blow to the Kremlin's foreign exchange revenues.
“The Telegraph” writes that Putin's inner circle is conducting campaigns aimed at discrediting the opposition to alleviate internal pressures.
According to Angela Stent, honorary director of Georgetown University's Center for Eurasian Studies, this has “become a standard Kremlin tactic during periods of internal instability”.
The newspaper recalls that on October 14, the FSB opened a criminal case against former “YUKOS” head Mikhail Khodorkovsky and 22 members of the “Anti-War Committee” on charges of “attempting to seize power by force”. Khodorkovsky, who lives in London, called these allegations “completely false and aimed at creating fear”.
