Mikhail Delyagin, a well-known economist and politician, believes that some political groups in the Kremlin are interested in bringing Vladimir Putin’s resignation forward. Apparently, they hope for the lifting of Western sanctions and the opportunity to come back to their mansions in Europe.
The political situation in Russia against the background of the upcoming vote on amendments to the Constitution continues to be quite tense. The Russian expert community headed by prominent political scientists, expect a political crisis to start in the country. According to experts, it might be triggered by an unstable economic situation, voting on amendments to the Constitution, low oil prices, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, some experts suggest that aggravation of the situation is beneficial to several political groups in the Kremlin. For example, Mikhail Delyagin, a well-known economist and politician, believes that some groups in the Kremlin are interested in bringing Vladimir Putin’s resignation forward. Apparently, they expect lifting of Western sanctions and the opportunity to come back to their mansions in Europe.
He voiced this opinion in an interview with the YouTube channel Glavtema, when the host asked him about the Russian economy and consequences of the crisis triggered by the novel coronavirus.
How is the state going to recover economically from the impact of the coronavirus crisis? When is this likely to happen? Why is it not being given enough attention?
“First of all, the state is concerned about the amendments to the Constitution, the situation in the U.S., and partly Ukraine. The Kremlin is also interested in power balance in the Russian regions so that the governors do not take too much responsibility. The economy? The residents? The residents will wait. What else could it be worried about?”
For example, political stability.
“Political stability? How can it concern people who have created a revolutionary situation with their own hands since the beginning of the epidemic? When you, the state, start forbidding people to live an ordinary life, go out on the streets, work when most people do not have big financial savings, you trigger protest moods yourself. Some political leaders increase discontent among the residents with their actions.”
Why would they do that?
“There are different interest groups,” Mikhail Delyagin. “Many in the Kremlin are interested in Putin's resignation. Some believe that if Putin resigns from a post of the Russian President, the Western countries will lift the sanctions, and they will live in their foreign mansions again without fear as they did before 2014. Someone who belongs to the liberal party believes that it is necessary to return to the time period from 1990s to 2000s, when the liberals ruled the country. Notably, in this case we mean people of the type that Boris Berezovsky, Alexander Kerensky and Anatoly Chubais belong to. At present, the liberals have become politically stronger and they want to regain their popularity ratings. Look at the magnificent Alexei Kudrin [the chairman of the Accounts Chamber,] who bulled through the pension reform. As soon as the decision [on the reform] was taken, he managed to hold a conference in the three days before its official announcement. He gathered all the reporters and said that “theoretically” he was “for” the pension reform, but at that moment, it was not necessary. He wanted to show people what he was for their needs and to win their favour.”