Russian politics is a bizar spectacle and apparently we have no idea what’s really going on.
It’s a soulless and savage (and ultimately mind-numbingly boring) spectacle, vulgar and cruel. As entertainment, I would put it on a par with dogfighting. By which I mean it should not exist, but there are too many psychotic people in society for it to ever be put out of its’ vulgar, cruel misery.
EDIT: As power politics go, this is like the mafia or drug cartels, with a bunch of short-term clever but long-term stupid pigs jockeying for top position, using each other’s families - their own wives and sons and daughters - as pawns, as collateral damage, as cannon fodder.
“According to the spokesman, Prigozhin told Mr Putin that Wagner unconditionally supported him.”
Yeah shit is crazy. I mean at first blush I wanna say that’s a power move on Putin’s part getting a former mutineer to bend the knee. But of course that’s only overshadowed by Putin receiving a former mutineer at an official function. Not sure who really has the gun to who’s head. Or why neither has fired. Is this a Mutually Assured Destruction situation?
I think both Putin and Prigozhin mutually benefit here.
From what I understood, the aim of the mutiny was to oust one of the lower commanders. They got that, and Putin gets a score for both “stopping the terror against Russia, and being on good terms with allies of Russia” (in truly diabolical Russian sense), all with minimal bloodshed.
to oust one of the lower commanders. They got that
The article says that the general who people though might have been fired was still in command on television as of Monday.
There had been speculation that Wagner’s march was cancelled in return for the general’s sacking. However, footage aired on Russian TV on Monday shows him issuing orders for Ukrainian missile sites to be attacked.
He is heard discussing recent events, suggesting that the video was filmed after the mutiny.
The video suggests that President Vladimir Putin has kept both Mr Shoigu and Gen Gerasimov in their posts.
You’re right, but even then the article says the video “suggests” they are still in their posts. Fuck, this situation is difficult to follow.
Idk man I just lurk here.
[scratches head] I guess.
Putin be like: I don’t suppose you fancy for a cup of tea?
Green tea. So green it glows in the dark.
