All for show? The Russian ruler seems to know what he is doing. At least that is the official report from Russian authorities. But the attempted attack on the Kremlin is said to have been quite different. This is reported by The Washington Post, citing intelligence documents that the newspaper claims to have.
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Putin is said to have been 'paralyzed'
Putin had known about the coup attempt at least two days before - the Russian security service claims to have warned him. As employees of various European intelligence services are said to have told the newspaper, Putin actually had enough time to react. However, this did not happen:
Then, when it started, there was paralysis at all levels [...] There was absolute consternation and confusion. They didn't know how to react for a long time. [...] In the Kremlin, the staff of the presidential guard was increased and more weapons were distributed there. That was it.
The head of the CIA had previously made similar public statements - but Kremlin spokesmen dismissed them as 'nonsense'. Regardless of who is right or wrong, the question is: what consequences the Wagner uprising will have for Putin?
Read more:Vladimir Putin: Politicians issue worrying warning over war in Ukraine, 'the end is unpredictable'
Has Putin gambled away his power with this uprising?
While in the general Russian population there is probably mainly a lack of understanding and confusion, some in the elite already seem to agree that Putin has forfeited his power. At least that is the opinion of Gennady Gudkov, a former colonel in exile:
Putin simply hid. This was not understood by the majority of the Russian population. But it was very well understood by Putin's elite.
An influential financier, who wished to remain anonymous, also seems to agree:
Putin has made an unforgivable mistake. He has lost his reputation as the toughest man in town.
Read more:Vladimir Putin called out by German military expert: 'He has nothing up his sleeve'
This article has been translated from Gentside DE.
Source used:
The Washington Post: Putin appeared paralyzed and unable to act in first hours of rebellion
