BeauBo, I don’t envy the position of Russia right now but the fact of the matter is:
The Russian economy is stagnant. It’s stable. Even blossoming in the big cities. Bad in the provinces, but not enough to warrant the kind of unrest that would pre-suppose some massive change in power on the horizon.
Russians are EXTREMELY averse to ANY form of unrest at this point, so...the question is not whether Putin will win, but how many people will actually show up to vote? (And this also keeping in mind the default vote rigging, ballot stuffing, et al. that is a given in every election there on this scale.)
Young people are under the impression Russia can have an “evolution” not “revolution.” So they will accept Putin for now with the expectation that change (of the positive variety) is somehow inevitable...
And following the election will immediately begin the negotiations for power transition, divisions, financial allotments and deals amongst the oligarchs, elite, etc...
The Russians I know in Chelyabinsk are getting real skinny.
Not as bad as Venezuela but unless you are with the oligarchs it’s slim pickings.