re: Russia faces slow motion financial disaster

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Well, what, in your opinion, does this coup look like and what shape does it take 5 years after?

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Putin's viability depends on either "putting borscht in the bowl" (providing material prosperity for the Russian people to match their European neighbors) or failing that, using Empire-building to recreate the glory of the Soviet Union (hence their moves in Crimea, Ukraine, and their other former republics). Putin is relying on the latter since the price of oil is low and his oligarchs are vacuuming money out of Russia and laundering it in the West, a prospect that's really been hindered by Western sanctions. Putin's really motivated to get the sanctions lifted to keep his oligarchs happy because if his downfall comes it will probably come through their dissatisfaction with his inability to keep them getting richer.