Representatives of Russian business and political elites are frightened by the growing influence of the so-called “Putin’s chef” Yevgeny Prigozhin and his calls for repression.
Bloomberg writes that until recently, the Russian establishment considered the curator of the Wagner PPK a marginal figure. But now the influence that Prigozhin and other advocates of increased confrontation on the international arena and increased repression within Russia are gaining in Russia is worrying many members of Russian business and political elites.
Senior Russian businessmen and officials are watching with dismay as Prigozhin’s calls for a stronger exchange rate across the board are received favorably by Vladimir Putin, writes Bloomberg.
According to many, the influence of Prigogine and presidents like him is explained by the fact that their vision of the future development of events coincides with the desires of Putin himself.
Most of all, the oligarchs are concerned about Prigozhin’s calls for increased repression against them because, according to the head of the Wagner PIK, they do not show sufficient support for military operations.
According to Bloomberg, it got to the point that some businessmen began to fear for their safety and the safety of their families.
Prigozhin’s open attacks on senior military leaders (some of whom were later removed) and on Putin’s ancient ally, St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov, heightened the concern of the Russian elite about the Kremlin’s unwillingness to protect them.
One of the officials even compared the political situation in Russia to a military dictatorship, but without the military coup that usually precedes it. So, the main emotion among the highest officials of Russia now is fear. Because of this fear, everyone Bloomberg spoke to agreed to speak only anonymously.
Despite statements by senior officials and President Putin himself that mobilization is over, many in the elite believe that the militarization of the economy and society is accelerating. And many in the government do not support this Putin’s policy, but they are too scared to talk about it openly.
One Bloomberg source also stressed that in the current situation, Putin “has no choice but to rely on aggressive players like Prigogine and Ramzan Kadyrov,” since only they have loyal personal armies.
Source: Racurs
