I broke it down like this. - Edit 1
Before modification by Vodalus at 28/08/2023 11:40:17 AM
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The notion that Putin’s reputation was damaged is really something the Western press made up and perpetuated. In Russia, it was more just seen as resolving a potential dispute in a traditional Russian fashion, though most people still think it was staged. I agree with them. I also believe it was an anti-Putin individual or group that killed Prigozhin. Putin had nothing to gain from killing him and if they truly had a dispute, killing Prigozhin risked a resumption of Wagner attacks. But it didn’t happen, because they knew Prigozhin and Putin were very close.
The notion that Putin’s reputation was damaged is really something the Western press made up and perpetuated. In Russia, it was more just seen as resolving a potential dispute in a traditional Russian fashion, though most people still think it was staged. I agree with them. I also believe it was an anti-Putin individual or group that killed Prigozhin. Putin had nothing to gain from killing him and if they truly had a dispute, killing Prigozhin risked a resumption of Wagner attacks. But it didn’t happen, because they knew Prigozhin and Putin were very close.
It was staged
- It was staged by Progozhin alone.
- It was staged by Prigozhin and Putin together.
It was real
- It was done at Putin’s behest.
- It was done on Putin’s behalf, maybe by a misguided underling.
- It was done by a third party, somebody whose position or fortune is highly dependent on Putin’s good grace. Essentially, they did it for their own perceived self-interest.
- It was done by one of Prigozhin’s enemies. I don’t think the Ukrainians could pull off such a feat, but who knows. The people he was revolting against, whether Shoigu or some of the guys running the war effort, probably could, though. Repeat numbers 3, 4, and 5, but with a name other than Putin.
To me, number 3 seems the most likely. It conveniently rehabilitates Putin’s reputation, to boot. That’s a matter we won’t see eye to eye on. It seems like you’re limiting it to just his domestic audience. Admittedly, it’s highly agenda-driven here. I’ll add that there was a fair of badmouthing Putin on Weibo that was put up and allowed to stay up. Something that never would have happened in earlier in the war. Xi is expressing some sort of concern. I’ll clean this up later. I need to go back to sleep.