Russian President Vladimir Putin turned on his circle of corrupt and wealthy oligarchs during a fiery speech.
Russia’s leader appeared angered as his invasion of Ukraine drags on with no sign of victory in sight.
Putin has also put two leaders of the FSB under house arrest because he gave them billions to buy off the Ukrainian politicians to help with the invasion.
However, the agents took the cash and were caught when Putin actually invaded only to discover Ukraine was going to fight until the end, and not stand down as he planned.
Next, Putin had to go begging to China for unspoiled MRE’s after one of his closest oligarchs, the man known as Putin’s chef, seemed to have looted the cash meant to feed the army after pictures turned up during the invasion showing Russian soldiers were given unedible MRE’s.
A few oligarchs have even dared to publicly snub Putin and call for peace.
So it is not surprising, in his desperation, Putin is turning on these men.
Max Seddon, Moscow Bureau Chief of the Financial Times, translated Putin’s rant:
“They are trying to bet on a so-called fifth column, on traitors of the nation, on those who earn money here but live over there.
“And live there not just in a geographic sense, but in their minds and their consciousness which is that of slaves.
“I don’t judge those with villas in Miami or the French Riviera. Or who can’t get by without oysters or foie gras or so-called ‘gender freedoms.’
“The problem is they mentally exist there, and not here, with our people, with Russia.
“They think this places them in a higher caste.”
Putin did concede Russia was headed for trouble, however.
“Of course, the new reality will require deep structural changes to our economy,” he said.
“I won’t conceal that they will be difficult.
“They will lead to a temporary rise in inflation and unemployment.
“Our task is to minimize such risks.”
Putin: “They are trying to bet on a so-called fifth column, on traitors of the nation, on those who earn money here but live over there. And live there not just in a geographic sense, but in their minds and their consciousness which is that of slaves.”
— max seddon (@maxseddon) March 16, 2022
“I don’t judge those with villas in Miami or the French Riviera. Or who can’t get by without oysters or foie gras or so-called ‘gender freedoms.’ The problem is they mentally exist there, and not here, with our people, with Russia. They think this places them in a higher caste.”
— max seddon (@maxseddon) March 16, 2022
From FT:
Vladimir Putin has vowed to raise Russia’s minimum wage and the salaries of all public sector workers as part of measures designed to cushion western economic sanctions triggered by his decision to wage war against Ukraine.
Speaking on Wednesday at a meeting about providing support to Russian regions, the president said the government would also increase pensions and state payouts to the disadvantaged as the price of goods rose.
“I understand that rising prices are seriously hitting people’s incomes,” Putin said via video link.
“Therefore, in the near future, we will decide to increase all social benefits.”
The measures are an early indication of the blow the western punitive measures against Russia’s banking system, payment network and trade are starting to have on the country’s economy.
