Russian political elites are definitely thinking about Putin's successor. So far, this issue is not on the agenda. However, everything can change after the winter or another large-scale defeat of the Russians at the front.
This Channel 24 was told by Russian political scientist Abbas Gallyamov. According to him, the option with Putin's successor is exactly scrolled by all the Kremlin elites. Although this has not become a subject of public discussion, there is an understanding that Putin will no longer save the situation.
Putin can delay the situation until the end of winter
As Gallyamov notes, earlier it seemed to him that Putin could delay these processes until the end of winter – the beginning of spring. The dictator managed to throw “bait” at the political elites – they say, wait until winter, Europe will freeze and kneel. Then Russia will be able to dictate terms – Ukraine will stop receiving weapons and lose.
And when at the end of winter or the beginning of spring it becomes clear that nothing happened. Then everything is a dead end. Then the topic of the successor should be on the agenda in full growth, – Gallyamov believes.
However, after the lightning-fast counter-offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region, the situation may change. He suggests that the elites won't wait until the end of winter if another massive failure occurs at the front. They may fear that the system will collapse altogether by the end of winter.
Who can become Putin's successor
Gallyamov is convinced that the political elites will try to elect the person who practically did not participate in the military-patriotic bacchanalia of the past. It could be Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Dmitry Kozak, etc.
It is important for political elites that Putin's successor has a clean reputation and is able to relieve the burden on the system. After all, now it is literally bursting at the seams.
What will happen to Putin then
According to Gallyamov, Putin will first go on a “deserved rest”. A potential successor will not have to touch him. But in the future the situation may change, as in the same Kazakhstan with Nazarbayev and Tokayev. It is difficult to predict anything here, because everything depends on further events.
According to the Russian opposition politician Gennady Gudkov, Putin will receive a serious blow after the de-occupation of Kherson. At this point, support for the dictator will seriously collapse even among the security forces.
