NEWSLINK: A Nervous Russian Elite is Wary as Putin Transforms His Political Edifice

[A nervous Russian elite is wary as Putin transforms his political edifice – Washington Post – Will Englund – March 9, 2013 – http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/a-nervous-russian-elite-is-wary-as-putin-transforms-his-political-edifice/2013/03/08/8c777036-829e-11e2-a350-49866afab584_story.html]

The Washington Post addresses changes in the Russian political elite:

President Vladimir Putin’s steady and seemingly solid political structure, under pressure from within and without, is undergoing a renovation that could remake the whole edifice, if it doesn’t crack open first. Few seem to understand how this will turn out, or what their places will be in it when it’s done.

Speculation about change began with street protests in late 2011.

More recently, high-profile corruption investigations have created some nervousness among the elite. Nationalism and anti-Western attitudes have added to a sense of volatility.

Change creates risk, and for those targeted for investigation, change has not been pleasant:

Broadly speaking, the Kremlin appears to be dropping the most egregious offenders over the side, like so much excess ballast. An Olympic official whose own construction company was over budget by 900 percent on the construction of a ski jump, and way behind schedule, was exposed by Putin himself on national television. A member of the state Duma, Vladimir Pekhtin, was let go when he couldn’t come up with a satisfactory explanation for the undeclared Miami properties in his name.

Pekhtin, according to Dozhd TV, resigned his seat only after a meeting inside the Kremlin that lasted until 2 a.m. His departure ­ soon followed by those of three others, including a member of the upper house ­ appeared to send an especially strong signal: that the nationalist fervor Putin is stirring up comes with teeth, and it’s time for those who want to keep in his favor to remember the motherland, and bring that one foot that’s been out the door back inside.

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