It’s like a mixed metaphor, Putin is a dictator and definitely has command of his forces. That means the so called oligarchy isn’t an oligarchy at all.
They are addicted to O2......................
I'll take "Unhappy Endings" for $400, Alex.
Loyal. That’s a funny word in this context. Some of the Oleg arks who fell out of favor of Putin ended up dead or their sons ended up dead.
“answer lies in Russia’s adept use of carrots and sticks to bind the oligarchs more closely to the regime. “
Sticks=dead.
Or if you are “lucky “ sent to a gulag.
5.56mm
Oligarchs in America are just socialists. What is the difference between a Putin socialist, or an Oligarch socialist. Nada.
‘’’’while tight control over domestic media has sustained the narrative that the Putin administration is effectively returning Russia to great power status.’’’’
This kind of ‘blood libel’ is easily debunked. What media is actually pro-government in Russia? You can name RT, NTV, ORT, Russia 24. On the other hand a basic cable plan offers you like 300 channels. Most are entertaintent, true but about 40 or so are not. That includes CNN, BBC and others dubbed in Russian. Numerous domestic channels of all stripes from far-left to far-right, Orthodox, muslim, buddist religious channels and also American style religious channels, channels running conspiracy theories from Communist and channels running conspiracy theories from nationalist perspective both taunting the government.
And that is only TV. When it comes to printed or online media there are more than that.