Who blocks the recognition of New Russia?
Recent events related to the situation in the south-east of Ukraine (unconvincing negotiations in Donetsk, Putin’s withdrawal from the Federation Council of permission to deploy troops, looping diplomacy on the gas issue, flirting with the Kiev regime, etc.) clearly indicate the most severe confrontation, which now goes within the political elite.
In fact, we are witnessing the beginning of an open phase of the war between two antagonistic forces. The first force is represented by the relatively recent supporters of the higher echelons of power, the supporters of the independent development of Russia (among them, for example, Advisor to the President S. Glazyev, Minister of Culture V. Medinsky, Chairman of the State Duma S. Naryshkin, Deputy Prime Minister D. Rogozin), the second is the oligarchs, for whom our country is a raw material colony of the West, populated by backward uncivilized scoops.
It is noteworthy that our omnipresent and all-knowing media are silent about this irreconcilable struggle: not a word, not a word. Meanwhile, exactly what is being held back today is the main reason for Russia's vague policy towards Novorossia. It is a split in the top management that creates weakness, and that, in turn, - indecision, inconsistency and even ambiguity in actions. I emphasize that this weakness is internal, “subjective”, which correlates little with the external real threat; in other words, the whole problem is not in them (America, Europe), but in us. If there were unity in the government on the Ukrainian issue, nothing would have hindered resolutely declaring Russia of its own interests in the Donbas, since It is obvious that today the West is not capable of serious opposition and, as a fire, is afraid of the open participation of our country in the fate of the south-east of Ukraine (which Z. Brzezinski sincerely admitted the other day). Everyone understands (both the USA, and Europe, and Kiev) that the future of Novorossia completely depends on the political will of Russia. Our official recognition of this new political subject would give a clear signal to America that its adventure in Ukraine was completely hopeless (and without the support of Washington, the Kiev regime would quickly fall, without any doubt). However, this is not happening yet.
Alas, all this means that the president of the country today cannot fully implement an independent independent policy in the interests of the state and the people. This is about the question of Putin’s “authoritarian regime,” which liberals love to speculate about. For a number of reasons (here there is direct pressure, sabotage, blackmailing of oligarchs on the one hand, and tacit mutual obligations on the other), Putin is forced to reckon with the interests of the oligarchic elite. Sadly, oligarchic rule is partially preserved in Russia. Of course, the recognition of this fact cannot but cause legitimate indignation, but if one turns away from emotions and addresses the arguments of reason, it is not difficult to conclude that a similar situation is characteristic of many countries of the world, including the most civilized and democratic ones. For example, we can recall that the dependence of the US President on the oligarchy is much more than that of Putin. I'm not talking about some countries of the former USSR, where (as in the same Ukraine) there is a direct oligarchic rule.
In this regard, it is worth noting that many representatives of the patriotic camp, following the liberals, are also inclined to exaggerate the president’s ability to fulfill the duties entrusted to him by the Constitution. One part of the patriots accuses the president of “surrendering” New Russia, the other “justifies” the presence of a “cunning plan”. It came to mutual accusations of betrayal and anxiety (even in the blogosphere there was even a special terminology: "all propals", "sofa armies", etc.). However, it is quite clear that Putin is not in a vacuum without space, and he does not possess the wand of the demiurge (or at least the oprichan staff of the “tyrant” Ivan the Terrible). Therefore, there are no “cunning plans”, there is no meaningful “silence” (as, indeed, there is no “surrender”), but there is viscous, exhausting maneuvering between various opposing groups, whose opinion the president cannot ignore. At the same time, I don’t want to somehow “justify” the president and relieve him of personal responsibility for what is happening in the south-east of Ukraine (in the end, no one was pulling on his tongue when, in harsh terms, he declared security guarantees for the Russian population in Ukraine). I just want to say that the looping on one figure of Putin prevents the true understanding of the essence of the matter.
And the essence of the matter lies in the presence in the Russian leadership of a powerful oligarchic lobby, which is very difficult to get rid of under the global dominance of transnational corporations (which didn’t crush anyone, but the United States, and slowly begin to crush China). It would be strange to expect that the world financial elite would give up such a tidbit of raw materials like Russia without a fight. Again, I am not saying this for the sake of “justifying” Putin, but only for a clearer understanding of the current state of things. Everything is, as we see, much more complicated and dramatic. Although there is a temptation to explain what is happening historical events by the will of one person, for which, of course, serious reflection and knowledge are not required (and emotions are required mainly).
The annexation of the Crimea was, apparently, the last compromise beyond which the oligarchs did not want to go. In order to prevent Russia's open and decisive intervention in the situation with Novorossia, far-fetched and unconvincing arguments about the inexpediency of such intervention began to spread through the media (horror stories about the Third World War using atomic energy). weapons, about drawing Russia into a kind of “trap”, about a total break of economic ties with Europe, etc.). All of them are a “smoke screen” to hide the main reason: the oligarchs fear the sanctions, because the sanctions will affect their business first of all. To this fear should be added hatred for a strong and independent Russia, as well as to the Novorossia born before our eyes, where republics are created that are free from the power of transnational corporations. Such a development, which has become a complete surprise for everyone, is a death sentence for both the Ukrainian and Russian oligarchies. Note that the greatest cruelty is not the Ukrainian security forces (Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Army), but punitive "battalions" of the oligarch Kolomoisky, who is ready to go for any violence in order to return his assets to his patrimony under his control.
But the blood of the peaceful inhabitants of Novorossia is not only in the hands of Kolomoisky and the current Kiev authorities; it is in the hands of the Russian oligarchs, blocking any serious attempt by Moscow to force Kiev to really establish peace (and not imaginary, as Poroshenko suggests), and also by all means interfering with the openness of recognizing Novorossia and introducing peacekeeping forces there. These people act in concert with those who "assimilate" the residents of Donbass with the land, who turn Ukraine into Chechnya 90-ies (think about it: Ukraine more than once (!) In 30 - and by population, - than Chechnya) and deserve no less condemnation than the well-known aggressors from Washington and Kiev.
The current state of affairs in the Russian leadership is aggravated by the fact that the opposition between the oligarchs and the president occurs “under the carpet”, in conditions of absolute lack of publicity (this is where, to the attention of admirers of democratic values, the main violation of the freedom of speech). Putin, of course, cannot openly admit this confrontation. Always staying in the shadows, the oligarchs cynically cover their business interests with the interests of the country, skillfully using for this the opinions of various reputable and respected people (recall the recent presentation on Russian politics in Ukraine by Yevgeny Primakov). This “behind-the-scenes” position is very profitable and win-win: after all, in case of failure or failure, the “extreme” will be the president, and not the oligarchs who do not formally participate in political decisions.
It seems that Putin, who in recent years has in fact defended Russia's national interests, today needs popular support. Probably, our analysts should pay special attention to drawing up a roll-call "shameful list" of persons acting against the interests of our Fatherland. The country should know not only its hero-creators, but also its traitors-destroyers. Yes, on the side of the destroyers there is a lot of money and media resources, but as Pushkin wrote: “No wealth can outbid the influence of public thought”. Despite all the obstacles, a fair thought will eventually find its way to the mind and heart of the reader.
And the last. The Russian oligarchy, which is part of the elite Euro-circle of the golden calf, is a gravestone on the neck of Russia, which has not allowed the country to rise to its feet for more than twenty years and breathe freely. The current situation in Ukraine only exacerbated the problem of a deep split, confrontation within the Russian authorities. The very course of events requires the earliest and cardinal personnel changes in the economic bloc of the executive (as was recently done by the president in law enforcement agencies), otherwise Russia is doomed to defeat.