Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will continue to rely on the support of Russian special services and security forces during his fifth presidential term. He first appeals to the FSB to emphasize that his regime allegedly has the support of a sprawling security apparatus.
This opinion was expressed by experts of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
ISW recalls that Vladimir Putin presented the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) as a key guarantor of Russian security and sovereignty following his "victory" in the Russian presidential "election", which probably indicates that the Russian special services and security forces will continue to represent his core constituency in his fifth presidential term.
Putin delivered his first major speech after his "victory" in the "elections" at a meeting of the FSB board on March 19 and praised the service's employees for "ensuring the security and sovereignty of Russia."
Analysts say Putin's appeals to the FSB's functions were likely intended to remind his domestic electorate that his regime has the support of a sprawling security apparatus that the Kremlin has been trying to expand since launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, particularly since the Wagner Group‘s failed rebellion in June 2023.
"Putin, a former KGB officer himself, may be highlighting the FSB as an organization that has his current favor, although Putin has traditionally pitted Russia’s security organizations and security forces (siloviki) against each other to compete for his support and prevent any singular entity from amassing too much power," analysts note.