Russia: What happens after Putin?

[Politruk]

If Putin were to kick it tomorrow, what would happen to Russia? He has never groomed a successor that I've heard of, nor made any other plans for a post-Putin future. He does not represent any larger enduring institution like the old Communist Party (which still exists in Russia, but only as a tolerated and powerless opposition).

 

[Saint_Ann]

Aren't we on Putin 3.0 already?

 

[Politruk]

[TR]
[TD]I think many Russians, but also a lot of Westerners, make a very serious mistake in trying to look for… a better person to become president. They are searching for such a person in [Alexei] Navalny, in myself, but that’s a mistake. Anyone who replaces Putin is going to take Russia along the same imperialist route.
[...] It is a very large and very diverse country, and if you want to manage it from one central spot, you have to have a very strong bureaucratic apparatus. To have such a huge apparatus at the centre has to be explained by having to protect the country from an outside enemy – there is no other explanation that people will accept.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]—Mikhail Khodorkovsky, exiled Russian businessman and opposition figure, May 2022.[/TD]
[/TR]

 

[Politruk]

Whatever else happens, I presume Putin's death would end the Ukraine war -- because who else in Russia wants it?

 

[PaxNurgle]

Aren't we on Putin 3.0 already?

You tell me. He's your president, not ours.

 

[Saint_Ann]

You tell me. He's your president, not ours.

You're so cute when you say dumb things.

 

[Politruk]

You're so cute when you say dumb things.

You don't really expect anyone to believe you are American, do you?

 

[Saint_Ann]

You don't really expect anyone to believe you are American, do you?

Yes, you can be assured that every conversation that we have is being closely monitored.

 

[Politruk]

These are the political parties in Russia. A Just Russia is probably the one Westerners would most like to see in charge -- but it runs a distant third, after the Communists.

 

[PaxNurgle]

You don't really expect anyone to believe you are American, do you?

She was exposed as a Russian bot a while ago and all but admitted as such. But of course (Just like that Suck Toy incel, who thankfully seems to have slunk away) She will categorically deny it.

 

[Politruk]

Could the United Russia party survive without Putin?