Sergey Kiriyenko and Dmitry Peskov, photo: social media
Part of the Russian political elite tried to persuade Vladimir Putin to abandon the introduction of strict internet restrictions. Among them, as The Guardian writes citing sources, were Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration Sergey Kiriyenko.
Details. The publication reports that Peskov and Kiriyenko privately tried to convince Putin not to impose serious restrictions, but this did not produce results.
"As long as the war continues, Putin will give preference to the security services," one of The Guardian's sources said, adding that internet shutdowns are under the control of the FSB.
Disappointment with Putin. According to the publication's interlocutors, although fears of a possible coup in Russia are exaggerated, Putin is now going through the most difficult stage of his rule. As they claim, he is surrounded by officials who are becoming increasingly disappointed both in the war against Ukraine and in the economic downturn.
"This year there has definitely been a shift in mood among the elite... there is deep disappointment in Putin. <...> No one believes that everything will suddenly collapse tomorrow. But there is a growing understanding that completely senseless, self-destructive decisions continue to be made. People who once defended Putin no longer do so. Any sense of a future has disappeared." <...> "The feeling of an approaching catastrophe is growing," a source told The Guardian.
Journalists note a decline in Putin's ratings, as well as a worsening condition of the Russian economy.
War in Ukraine. Despite this, Putin still believes that the war in Ukraine must continue. According to the publication's sources, he is convinced that Russia will be able to seize the entire Donbas by the end of the year, because the leadership of the Defense Ministry convinced him of this.
"Even if many of those around him understand the real state of affairs, we still do not know what Putin himself understands. That is the most difficult part," a representative of European intelligence said.
Fear of a coup. On May 4, media outlets, citing a report by European intelligence, said that the Kremlin had expanded the powers of the FSO and strengthened security measures around Putin because of fears of a possible coup d'état.
According to the intelligence services, the FSO reduced the list of places the politician may visit. He stopped traveling to military facilities and appearing at residences in the Moscow region and at Valdai. Instead, Putin hides for weeks in modernized bunkers.
For his safety, the internet is periodically shut down in some areas of Moscow. Visitors to the Presidential Administration now undergo a two-level check, including a full inspection by FSO officers. Employees who interact with Putin have been forbidden from using public transportation and mobile phones with internet access. Surveillance systems have been installed in their homes.