• @Rose@lemmy.zipOP
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      1223 days ago

      I do think it would end any Russian politician’s career if they were to tell the nation that the war has been in vain and that the occupied territories of Ukraine are to be returned but I also think you underestimate the power of a dictator. Everything in Russia is built around Putin and his image, so him dying could be a significant disruption leading to another revolution. That said, in Russia, virtually every revolution leads to a brief moment of freedom only for another dictator to come in and say how chaotic it is and that order must be restored, with the people accepting that.

      • Joe
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        223 days ago

        And, just like in a democracy, they can blame all the problems on the previous leader, and will enact new policies. There won’t be any former victories to claim as their own in putin’s case, though. It’s a hollow shell of a country these days, let alone an empire.

        What a waste … think what russia could have been, had it invested in its own potential.

      • @nesc@lemmy.cafe
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        122 days ago

        r*ssians are in love with their image of empire, they will live in literal shit as long as someone says they are great, there is no one in there who won’t continue the war. Like the most liberal saviour of democracy of the hellhole - navalny supported war and crimean occupation.

        Current ru-empire was at war starting from their previous empire collapse, and previous one was the same. Why would new one be any different? As long as they exist as a single entity it won’t end. Only after partitioning it there can be peace for neighboring countries while they kill themselves.

      • @A_norny_mousse@feddit.org
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        123 days ago

        Agreed. Actually I’m even slightly more hopeful than you. Other countries have managed to turn around, even large ones.

        Everything in Russia is built around Putin

        The sourced article goes into more detail here. The whole helicopter journey was impossible.

      • Talaraine
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        223 days ago

        Sometimes when it seems life is never gonna change for me, I just wish for a different set of assholes I need to deal with.

    • If he has established a clear line of succession, with the second-in-command being given increasing responsibilities to prepare them for taking charge and everybody else knowing their authority, maybe. Though Putin has specifically avoided this as to avoid any rival centres of power from forming and challenging him. His philosophy seems to be “apres moi, le deluge”: when he no longer exists, it doesn’t matter whether Russia does or not. This does not bode well for an orderly transition.

      • @fullsquare
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        323 days ago

        yeah, putin’s power comes from being an arbiter between different oligarchs. when he croaks it’ll be shitshow the likes you all haven’t seen since 90s

      • @nesc@lemmy.cafe
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        122 days ago

        Any successor imaginable will continue their current path, it’s not ptin it’s rssians.