Russia has seen power shifting from Vladimir Putin’s regime to the peripheries where regional strongmen and small-town tyrants are growing increasingly bold, according to a US-based thinktank.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has said that Russian officials have grown increasingly alarmed at the rate at which Moscow’s authoritarian grip appears to be slipping.
ISW points to Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of the Chechen Republic, handling an anti-Israeli protest that erupted at a Russian airport on Sunday as an example of this power shift.
The thinktank said Kadyrov’s heavy-handed response to the demonstration showed a desire to portray his own “authoritarian rule over Chechnya”.
ISW said: “Russian officials may be increasingly concerned about the weakening of authoritarian control in regions on the periphery of the Russian Federation.”
The analysis continued: “Kadyrov’s reactions to the riots in Dagestan suggest that he is first and foremost concerned with maintaining the perception of his unwavering support of Putin and secondly with demonstrating the strength of his authoritarian rule over Chechnya.”
It comes amid reports that Pavel Prigozhin, the son of dead Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin could be running what remains of the mercenary unfit under the guise of the Rosgvardia.
The ISW noted: “Russian regional news outlets reported on November 1 that the Wagner Group has resumed recruiting in Perm and Novosibirsk oblasts under Pavel’s leadership.
“Russian outlet Ngs.ru reported that a Wagner representative in Novosibirsk stated that Wagner is no longer recruiting criminals or people with illnesses.
“Russian milbloggers also claimed that Pavel is the new leader of the remnants of Wagner and expressed hope that Pavel’s appointment is an indication that Wagner will survive its subordination to Rosgvardia.”
