Russia turning on Putin – ‘Should be charged for treason!’

Russian pundit says mobilisation supporters are ‘living in own world’

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The Kremlin has total control over the media and the population in Russia. But as Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine continues to not go to plan, more and more people are defying the Kremlin to criticise the “special military operation”. Just this week, a Russian state TV presenter, Vladimir Solovyov, has lamented Russia’s failings in Ukraine. He said the West is now “mocking” Moscow.

Solovyov added that Russia’s military display in Ukraine has been “truly worrisome” and “there hasn’t been a single operation after Kharkiv that would alleviate this bitterness, nor have there been any returned or added territories.”

He continued: “I have a big request for our Army: please start to fight by the regulations, the way you can, the way you have been taught. Let’s start announcing newly liberated places. What do you need for this? 300,000 have been mobilised.”

It isn’t just propagandists that have started to deviate from Putin’s narrative and criticise the country’s attack on Ukraine. In September, Local Russian lawmakers in both St. Petersburg and Moscow called for the Russian president to resign.

Lawmakers in St Petersburg also issued a statement saying Putin should be charged with high treason for launching the war in Ukraine.

Councillor from the city, Dmitry Palyuga, tweeted the statement which said: “We believe that the decision made by President Putin to start the special military operation is detrimental to the security of Russia and its citizens.

“The Council of the Smolninskoye Municipal District decided to appeal to the State Duma deputies with a proposal to bring charges of treason against President Putin in order to remove him from office. The decision was supported by the majority of the deputies present.”

In recent days, opposition to the war within Russia has also been made apparent after Putin announced a partial mobilisation which would see 300,000 people potentially sent to fight in Ukraine.

Protests were held in major cities across Russia with thousands being arrested. Many also fled the country to places like Georgia, Finland, Turkey and Mongolia. It was reported that as many as 250,000 men left the country to avoid having to fight.

Political scientist Ihor Reiterovich believes that the elite in Moscow could also turn their backs on Putin. Speaking to New Voice of Ukraine recently, he discussed what could happen if Russia suffers further setbacks in the war.

He said: “The situation on the front lines will get increasingly worse, and there will be a need to find some sort of solution. They (the Russian elites) are starting to think such a solution doesn’t necessarily include Putin.

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“There’s panic spreading in occupied Crimea; Russian citizens are fleeing the peninsula; there’s panic in Belgorod (Russian city near the Ukrainian border).

“In general, the way they’re discussing everything that’s going on in social media – it’s sheer panic, fear, and tremendous doubts about Russian leadership’s ability to keep things under control.”

Mr Reiterovich also warned that the city of Kherson – located in the south of Ukraine – is one area which Russian military cannot afford to be driven out of.

He said: “It would indeed be a colossal blow to them, in terms of their general prospects in this war they’re waging against Ukraine, and Russia’s ability to win it.

“They can already see no triumphs on the battlefield, and there won’t be any.”

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