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Putin and the plot
the Kremlin is reportedly gripped by paranoia and fears of a potential coup. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) recently opened a criminal case against exiled businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky and other critics, accusing them of plotting to seize power. This follows heightened tensions and events, including the 2023 Wagner Group rebellion, that have raised questions about Putin’s grip on power.Based on recent news reports,
Here are the key plots and challenges related to Putin and his regime:
Recent coup allegations (2025)
The FSB investigation: In October 2025, the FSB accused prominent Kremlin critics, including exiled former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, of forming a “terrorist organization” and plotting a coup.
Response from critics: Khodorkovsky denied the allegations, stating that the opposition’s threat to Putin comes from functioning as an “alternative point of legitimacy”.
Kremlin’s paranoia: Analysts describe the move as a sign of the Kremlin’s growing paranoia and a tactic to discredit the opposition and blame the West for internal problems, thereby shoring up the regime.
2023 Wagner Group rebellion
Mercenary uprising: In June 2023, Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group, a private mercenary organization, initiated a short-lived armed rebellion against the Russian military leadership.
A challenge to authority: The rebellion saw Wagner forces occupy the city of Rostov-on-Don and advance toward Moscow, in a direct challenge to the Kremlin’s authority. The mutiny ended after Prigozhin reached a deal and ordered his troops to stand down.
Aftermath: Prigozhin was killed in a mysterious plane crash two months later. The event exposed the fragility of Putin’s power structure, as the public’s reaction was notably apathetic.
Assassination of opponents and critics
History of silencing opponents: Since taking power, Putin’s regime has been linked to numerous assassinations and suspicious deaths of political rivals, journalists, and critics.
Key figures:Boris Nemtsov: A liberal politician and vocal critic, Nemtsov was shot dead near the Kremlin in 2015.
Alexei Navalny: Russia’s most prominent opposition leader, Navalny survived a poisoning attempt in 2020 before dying in a remote prison colony in February 2024 under suspicious circumstances.
Yevgeny Prigozhin: The leader of the Wagner Group died in a plane crash after his 2023 mutiny.Alleged foreign plots
Kremlin drone attack: In May 2023, two drones exploded over the Kremlin. Russia labeled it a Ukrainian assassination attempt on Putin, a claim Kyiv denied.
Ukraine coup plot: In January 2022, the UK accused Russia of plotting to install a pro-Moscow leader in Ukraine, which was denied by Russia.
“The Plot to Destroy Democracy”: Some analyses of Russian tactics describe a wider “plot” by Putin and Russian intelligence to undermine Western democracies through cyber warfare and disinformation. Leaked documents from 2021 reportedly revealed Putin’s involvement in a plan to help elect Donald Trump in the U.S..— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 27, 2025
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