Behind the Kremlin curtain: FSB's growing power under Putin
Russian political scientist Yuri Felshtinsky dispels doubts about the future of the Kremlin in a conversation with "Fakt." He admits that there is currently no real competition for Putin. Meanwhile, the special forces currently operating in the Kremlin are more influential than they were during the Soviet era.
According to Yuri Felshtinsky, there are currently two centres of power in Russia.
One is the administration of President Vladimir Putin, and the other is the Federal Security Service (FSB). Ironically, a significant majority of the people who are part of Putin's administration also come from the FSB," he explains in a conversation with "Fakt."
He adds that a leadership change will not alter the country's management, as the FSB still governs it.
This is the first such situation in Russian history. It has never happened before," he asserts.
The FSB has a surprising amount of authority. Even the KGB was under the Communist Party's political leadership. Now, there is no such control.
Putin can comfortably settle into the presidential chair, at least until 2036
The Russian political scientist admits that Putin can feel safe because there are no successors he should fear.
In Russia, there are no forces that compete for power with the president. The existing political parties are pro-Kremlin and heavily infiltrated by the FSB. Independent leaders who competed with Putin — like Boris Nemtsov and Alexei Navalny — are no longer a threat. At the same time, Russia is not a predictable country. History shows us that whatever happens in Russia usually occurs unpredictably. We would never expect it. However, I don't think the FSB would allow anyone else to take power," assessed the interviewee of "Fakt."
He also added that Putin has currently created a very "stable regime for himself," and thanks to the amended Russian constitution, he can run the country without concerns until 2036.
Felshtinsky adds that the prolonged war with Ukraine makes Putin "weaker than ever." However, this does not prevent him from still being dangerous, at least through nuclear blackmail and ongoing confrontations with the West.
