After 2012, when Putin returned to the presidency following two terms as prime minister and money became tighter, he could not maintain his dual role of satisfying both the embezzling elite and ordinary Russians, so the burden fell on ordinary Russians while the elite kept their perks, creating mass protests that Putin interpreted not as organic expressions of discontent but as CIA-orchestrated plots.
causalpending
Speaker
Mark GaleottiEvidence Quote
“the money was beginning to get tighter and frankly because the embezzlers of the elite were not going to give up their perks the burden had to Fallen ordinary Russians [11:19]”
Source
Mark Galeotti - Russia has Defied Predictions of Analysts and Media. What are we Still Getting Wrong— Silicon CurtainCreated: 8/12/2026, 10:24:24 PM
My Notes
Loading notes...