Kathrine Frich
Questions are being raised about stability inside Russia
Voices from within the system begin to challenge the official narrative.
While the Kremlin projects control, some insiders suggest a very different reality beneath the surface.
New comments from a former regional leader point to growing tensions that could shape the country’s future.
Waiting for change
Ruslan Kutaev, a former deputy prime minister of Chechnya, has claimed that many people in Russia no longer trust the authorities.
Speaking to the program “Different People,” he said that a large part of the population is simply waiting for change. According to The Moscow Times, Kutaev stated that “no one there simply trusts the authorities. Everyone understands that Russia has already ceased to exist.”
He suggested that public loyalty to the Kremlin masks deeper dissatisfaction.
Focus on moscow
Kutaev pointed to Moscow as a key location in any future shift in power, highlighting its large and diverse population.
He said his organisation has built connections with various ethnic and regional groups in the capital.
“At the decisive moment, when action is required in Russia, we will act,” he told the interviewer, adding that his goal is to prevent instability from spreading beyond Russia’s borders.
Threat of force
The former official contrasted his movement with what he described as a weaker traditional opposition.
He claimed his supporters are prepared to take more extreme action if needed, saying: “we have people who, if necessary, will cut off a head, destroy a skull, go to the barricades and build barricades.”
His remarks suggest a readiness for confrontation rather than protest.
Loyalty questioned
Kutaev also cast doubt on the loyalty of forces aligned with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
In comments cited by Echo FM, he said that “90 percent or maybe more” of those currently seen as part of Kadyrov’s forces are waiting for the right moment to switch sides.
These claims, if accurate, would point to potential fractures within key power structures.
Uncertain future
Kutaev argued that many Russians already believe the current leadership has lost control, even if this is not openly expressed.
“Everyone knows that Putin has lost. They’re just waiting for [the authorities] to announce it,” he said.
He added that his group expects to play a major role if a broader collapse of power begins.
Sources: The Moscow Times, Different People, Echo FM
