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Russian President Vladimir Putin will chair a government meeting on the development of tourism in Russia on May 2, 2023 via video link from Saint Petersburg.MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images
Vladimir Putin is in a “heightened emotional state” after the Wagner mutiny, a Russia expert says.
It makes him susceptible to manipulation and his entourage gains power, said Tatiana Stanovaya.
The mutiny, while short-lived, appears to have weakened the Russian president.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is in a “heightened emotional state” after the failed Wagner Group mercenary mutiny, a Russian analyst said.
The short-lived revolt led by the leader of the Wagner group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, involved his troops marching on Moscow before finally turning around to avoid bloodshed.
The uprising, while ultimately a failure, was the most open challenge Putin has ever faced and ultimately weakened him. experts say.
Now the Russian leader appears to be embarking on damage control after the mutiny.
Putin made his first public appearance on a rare walkabout in Dagestan on Wednesday evening and was photographed taking selfies, shaking hands and even kissing a member of the audience – an unusual move by the president, who is a famous germaphobe.
“Recently his public appearances have portrayed an inexplicable joy bordering on euphoria, a stark departure from his usual demeanor,” Stanovaya said.
She believes his handlers wanted to create a perceived atmosphere of Russian affection for the embattled 70-year-old leader.
“This could be related to the story his entourage has created, emphasizing the universal support he receives from the elites and the immense love he enjoys from the people,” she said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin kisses a rally participant on a street in Derbent in the southern region of Dagestan, Russia, June 28, 2023.Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Kremlin via REUTERS
“What sets the current situation apart is Putin’s gradual loss of initiative in dealing with domestic problems,” said Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. Twitter. His heightened emotional state makes him more susceptible to manipulation.
“We seem to be observing a new phase in Putin’s regime, where his entourage is becoming more actively involved in shaping the trajectory.”
Story continues
Putin was earlier extremely isolated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which experts say led to him surrounding himself with a small circle of aides who fed him false information tailored to his preconceived notions.
Read the original article Business Insider
