Putin: life imprisonment

Kremlin has seriously begun preparations for the re-election of the bunker rat in 2024. Main narratives provide for "anti-Western rhetoric", that is, as usual, for propaganda - accumulation of hatred and isolationism. As Oksana Zabuzhko once wrote, "the professional trade in hatred, the art of high cynicism, from which person is excluded, which unlearns how to see a person, to empathize with others objectively."

And also - "the return of Russia's greatness, the struggle with the West and a multipolar world."

Interlocutors who leaked this information themselves admit that "This is not what worries the voter, but what the president himself is interested in."

Putin and his political technologists do not even foresee the presence of representatives of "liberal parties" in the elections - where do they come from? Outside of Russia, the only one who meets the criteria for living in the country in recent years is Alexey Navalnyi, but he lives in the Pokrovsk penal colony.  Putin's favorite spoiler - Ksenia Sobchak escaped from Russian Federation the other day under unclear circumstances - we don't know whether Putin helped her in this, or the escape was really hasty and unpredictable.

His daughter, Kateryna Tikhonova, can act as technical stunt double of the "leader", in addition to other political "faces", but I think that even in Kremlin they understand that such an option is height of shamelessness and cynicism.

Although... The same thing happened the previous time, in case of "zeroing", when Putin administration turned a trick with amendments to the constitution, according to which the previous terms of the "alpha male" were no longer taken into account. And what, did anyone pay attention to this global laughingstock, did it occur to anyone that Putin is actually illegitimate and a fraud?

In any case, Putin is doomed to rule for life.  If he survives until 2024, then, without a doubt, he will win the "election". But the time is such that it is not worth planning even for tomorrow.

First, Putin has not yet realized that he has broken his neck in Ukraine. From his former popularity, illusory "omnipotence" and charisma, only pitiful crumbs remained. Perhaps, Russian common man has not yet fully understood that the country is ruled by a "naked king", that all his TV tantrums are intended rather for self-training of the "leader". But this insight is clearly visible in the near future, when the country and each of its inhabitants will feel "one hundred years of loneliness" as a result of Western sanctions, isolation and abomination of the world.

However, in contrast to "ordinary people", this is perfectly realized in Putin's close circle.  The spiders in the jar are already slowly devouring each other in order to ensure some chances of victory on the captain's bridge of Russian "Titanic".  Kadyrov and Prigozhin vs. Shoigu and his ministry. And there is also FSB, and only God knows what moods are floating in the corridors of Lubyanka. Therefore, the option of Putin's physical removal, and therefore a real "reign for life", should not be completely ignored.

Secondly, Ukrainian Armed Forces can significantly accelerate Putin's "lifetime".  It is not only about possibility of a "palace coup" due to the disappointment and anger of Russian elite at Tsar's adventure.  Having liberated the occupied territories, Ukrainians will thus put an end to the election campaign in Russia. There will be another problem - civil war.

Thirdly, prospect of prosecution for war crimes committed by Russians in Ukraine hangs over Putin and his clique like a sword of Damocles. If the "leader" and Co. will be under Special International Tribunal (it doesn't matter whether as a result of Ukraine's victory parade on Red Square or after negotiations of the new leadership of Russian Federation with the West), then the verdict of this court will actually be a life sentence for "president" Putin. Either solitary confinement or gibbet.

So Putin is "for life" one way or another. He wanted it so badly, didn't he?

About the author: Ihor Hulyk is a journalist, editor-in-chief of the "Espreso.West" website.

The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the authors of the blogs.