Matheus-Turbin

After winning one of the least fair Russian elections over the past several decades, President Vladimir Putin's grip on power appears more solid than ever, with small pockets of protests rapidly quelled by security forces. Putin enjoys widespread support from the Russian elite, including the Siloviki, the Nomenklature, and the oligarchs. While an ousting of the president – either through nefarious or natural means – cannot be discounted in the long term, his influence over Russian politics is reinvigorated by the latest elections, recent battlefield successes in Ukraine, and growing tensions with the West – positioning him as the strong leader Moscow needs, in the minds of the Russian public.