There is an open demand among the Russian elite to find an alternative to Vladimir Putin.
Modern.az reports that economist Alexandra Prokopenko stated this in an interview with the German newspaper "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung". She came to this conclusion while analyzing the situation of the ruling circles approximately four years after the start of the war with Ukraine.
According to Prokopenko, the invasion of Ukraine was a turning point. The ruling elite previously considered Putin a rational politician, albeit an aging autocrat. This perception has now been shattered; many want him to leave.
Alexandra Prokopenko stated that the demand for change is not only among opponents of the war.
Supporters of the war are also dissatisfied, including military bloggers who accuse the president of being "soft" on the front.
Although some officials hoped that Yevgeny Prigozhin's rebellion in 2023 would overthrow Putin, these expectations were not met.
According to the publication, the elite, paralyzed by fear, is now awaiting an external force that could "fundamentally change the situation".
Fear has become a key factor in the system: former merit and loyalty no longer guarantee security. According to Prokopenko, the Kremlin is trapped in a distorted information environment: an embellished image is presented to the president, while the economy stagnates, and oil revenues and reserves decline.
