The Project of the “putin New Elite” with the Participation of “svoshniks” Has Failed

putin’s attempt to renew the power vertical with “veterans” of the war against Ukraine has failed. In the recent regional and municipal elections, the share of candidates with a military background did not exceed 1.5 %, and only 1.85 % of the total number of winners were elected.

Representatives of the army and persons associated with the war did not even make it into the top ten most common professions among candidates. Managers and the unemployed are in the lead, evidence that the kremlin’s attempt to turn “veterans” into a social lift has failed.

The main reasons for the refusal of “svoshniks” (russian nickname of participants of svo (“spetsialnaya voyennaya operatsia”– “special military operation” – Transl.) to participate in the elections are low financial motivation and unwillingness to take on political responsibility. The corruption expectations widespread among potential candidates were found excessive even by the kremlin.

Against this background, russia has seen its highest crime rate in a decade. According to the prosecutor general’s office of the rf, it was the war veterans who were the main factor in this “record”, underscoring the failure of putin’s project to integrate front-line soldiers into the state power structure.