Putin's Russia: Ministerials and their importance for the structure of power

Putin's Russia: Ministerials and their importance for the structure of power

On Monday, when the apparent suicide of the former Russian transport minister Roman Starovoit A detailed detail. Near his body, the investigators discovered a Glock pistol that had been presented as an award, the newspaper reported Kommensant Report received a weapon of the Interior Ministry with the enclosed weapon. The death of Starovoit happened in the middle of reports that suggest his possible involvement in a system for embezzlement of millions of dollars that were intended for border defense. These defenses would have been helpful when Ukrainian troops started a surprising attack there last August.

a picture of the decay

It is unclear whether it is the same pistol and whether the corruption case had to do with its release or death, since there were no official reasons for this. But the picture that is created by this situation is that of a state -funded suicide, a once rising star in Putin's political elite, which is found dead near his Teslas - a symbol for the fruits of his former loyalty. This representation has a particularly painful meaning in Russia these days.

Kreml's increasing control

After over three years of Putin's unprofitable war against Ukraine, the political cocoon of the Kremlin contracts again. Loyalty to the regime is no longer a guarantee of security, and there are fewer and fewer places where you can hide from the barbaric consequences. For many Russians, old fears return. "The smell of Stalinism blows from this story," wrote the exile Russian dissident Ilya Yashin on X.

a dangerous environment for the opposition

The situation has increased further recently. In mid-June, the Supreme Court of Russia banned the opposition party "Citizens' Initiative", which had tried unsuccessfully to set up the only anti-war candidate, Boris Nadezhdin, for the 2024 presidential election. The court accused her of having not participated in elections for seven years. "It's a tragic farce," said party leader Andrey Nechaev last month.

that for independent election observation

The independent election monitoring, which was already severely restricted in Russia, is now also before its end. On Tuesday, Golos, the last independent election observation center of Russia, his closure to.

The dramatic developments in business

Even in the economic sector, the tensions increase. On Saturday, Konstantin Strukov, the head of Yuzhuralzoloto, one of the largest gold mining companies in Russia, was arrested in the attempt to leave the country with his private jet. Shortly before, the Attorney General had initiated legal measures to nationalize the company and claimed that Strukov had abused its position in the regional government to obtain control over the company.

conclusion: a tightening climate of fear

The death of Roman Starovoit is reminiscent of many past events, but also shows the current challenges and dangers with which Russians are faced with. The political climate is becoming increasingly repressive, while the Kremlin is further expanding its control. The efforts, all resistance, be it political surveillance or economic intimidation, to suffocate in the germ, are clearly recognizable.