‘Russian Business Elites Want To Bring Shoigu To Power’

Who in Russia can play for the “peace party”?

The Russian publication “Verstka” writes that part of the Russian elite is in favor of ending the war in Ukraine. To which extent are the voices of the so-called “doves” heard within the Russian establishment today?

The Charter97.org website spoke about this with political expert, head of the Ukrainian Center for Military Legal Studies Oleksandr Musienko:

— Everything is natural. If you look at the statistics, the data is quite disappointing for Gazprom, Rosneft and other Russian companies. They are losing billions in revenue due to harsh sanctions.

Sanctions are hitting the Russian economy. Nobody wants to get involved in long-term projects or investments. Chinese and Turkish banks are introducing a ban on settlements with Russian counterparties.

It is also important to note that these statements coincide with drone strikes on facilities such as the gas terminal in Ust-Luga and other factories and enterprises that, as a rule, belong to a private company. However, we understand that they are also connected with the state, because in Russia it doesn’t work any other way. Obviously, the strikes do not suit the owners of these companies, who are losing huge amounts of money.

We see that the number of drone attacks in Russia is increasing. As a result, those who say, “Is this what Putin promised when he proclaimed the “special military operation”, are becoming more active?

Now Russians have to pay tough bills. In this regard, I am sure that there are dissatisfied people. After all, those who lose billions cannot be happy.

I will also mention a strategic point. Major oligarchs are being forced to reorient themselves to Asian markets. They are absolutely not ready for this. Let me remind you how Deripaska once traveled as part of a delegation with Prime Minister Mishustin to China. There they discussed with the Chinese government how to continue doing business and reorient themselves. To which Deripaska frankly said: “It’s much easier with Europe.”

They need to reorient themselves to the conditions dictated by China. Not only are they losing money, but the prospects are not bright. To all this is added Bashkortostan, and there is oil, gas, gold. What to do? You see, there is no stability and predictability. Large businesses now face military risks: higher costs, lack of insurance, and so on.

There is a whole range of factors at work. The war is slowly coming to Russia. This is absolutely not what Putin promised.

— Who from the Russian elite can be part of the “peace party”?

— The fact is that on the one hand there is big business, but it by itself, let’s say, does not solve anything. They can finance someone, but nothing will come of it without the support of the security bloc.

There are individual representatives of the business elite who are ready to enlist the support of the security forces. In this case, I think the security forces are not from the FSB, but from the opposite side — Sergei Shoigu. Try to bring Shoigu to power so that he can negotiate with Europe, the West, and withdraw troops from Ukraine. Let him try to normalize relations as much as possible.

I would like to remind you that it was Shoigu, while at a defense forum in China, who said that Russia is ready, under certain conditions, for negotiations. This is an interesting point.

Let me add that he also flashes on the screen all the time. The media only hears Shoigu-Putin, sometimes Peskov will say something, but this is not serious. I see that Shoigu is now consolidating power, he has his own ambitions.

— Russian media today show queues in support of candidate Boris Nadezhdin, who advocates ending the war. Could this person be a candidate from the “peace party”?

— There is a “peace party” that wants to end the war for human, ideological reasons. There are also those who do it for material reasons, because of the loss of money. Those ideologically charged can support Nadezhdin. Those who are for money — unlikely, because they need a power bloc. It’s hard without such support.

There is a situation in Russia where no one will give you power, you have to take it.

It’s good that there are people calling for peace and an end to the war, but they need to have a wing of power around them.

Just imagine Shoigu, who will take under his wing the dissatisfied mobilized Russians. Not directly, but through intermediaries who will be controlled by him. Can you imagine what potential this has? This is something that can be used as a battering ram.

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