Post-Soviet Russia has evolved into a 'private state' where private interests often outweigh state interests, a situation that has worsened during Vladimir Putin's era. The adoption of the law on 'state-private partnership' in 2015 has legitimized corruption by not clearly defining the interactions between government officials and businesspeople. Yevgeny Prigozhin, a key figure in this system, has benefited greatly through his company Concord and the Wagner Group, a private military company. Despite internal conflicts and a failed mutiny by Prigozhin, Putin's management model remains unchanged, with his close associates holding power above official state structures. The article suggests that overcoming 'Putinism' requires dismantling this 'private empire' to prioritize public interests and economic freedom over the militaristic ambitions of an unelected elite.

The article discusses the failed mutiny by Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner Group, highlighting the group's neglect of regional issues as a key factor in its rapid failure. The Wagner Group's takeover of Rostov-on-Don, a city with strong regionalist sentiments, was initially successful, but their lack of engagement with local populations and failure to establish a regional foothold led to their downfall. The article compares this to other paramilitary units like the Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion, which also ignore regional dynamics. The piece draws parallels with the Russian Civil War, where the White Army's defeat was partly due to ignoring regionalism. The article suggests that anti-Kremlin efforts that fail to address regional issues are unlikely to succeed, as they do not offer a compelling alternative to the centralist policies of Moscow.

The article discusses the erosion of federalism in Russia under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, who has centralized power and undermined the autonomy of Russia's regions. It traces the history of Russian federalism from the 1917 Constituent Assembly to the present day, highlighting the failure to establish a true federation post-Soviet Union and the continuation of centralization policies from Boris Yeltsin to Putin. The author notes the paradox of Chechnya's partial autonomy and criticizes the Kremlin's suppression of regional self-determination and political opposition. The article also contrasts Russian federalism with that of the United States, pointing out the hypocrisy of Russian officials criticizing U.S. democracy. The author, Vadim Shtepa, is the editor-in-chief of Region.Expert, an independent webzine that publishes from Estonia due to Russian censorship.

Russian-speaking intellectuals are reflecting deeply on Russia's war against Ukraine, leading to a philosophical reevaluation of the Russian state. Mikhail Epstein and Nikolai Plotnikov have published works analyzing the situation, with Plotnikov's collection featuring 16 authors. The authors argue that the war represents a civilizational catastrophe for Russia, with a history of imperial tendencies and a lack of reckoning with past evils contributing to the current situation. The collection calls for the dismantling of historical and political myths that justify military aggression and imperial arrogance, suggesting that demythologization of Russian consciousness could prevent future imperial catastrophes.

Russian border towns in the Baltic Sea region are experiencing accelerated depopulation due to historical territorial changes and economic centralization. The Soviet Union's annexation of territories from Finland, Estonia, and Latvia, followed by demographic replacements, set the stage for current migration trends. Post-Soviet Russia's economic focus on major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg has drawn populations away from smaller towns, which now suffer from poverty and lack of development. The closure of borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's war against Ukraine has further diminished local economies reliant on border trade. As a result, residents are moving to larger cities or abroad, with some politicians in Finland, Estonia, and Latvia discussing the reclamation of annexed territories based on 1920 treaties.

The article discusses Russia's support for the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which marks a departure from its official doctrine of backing only legitimate governments. The author compares the US withdrawal from Afghanistan to the Vietnam War, noting the emergence of a coalition comprising Islamic fundamentalists, Russia, and China against the West. China's economic interests in Afghanistan and Russia's political motives are highlighted, including the Kremlin's desire to direct Afghan refugees towards Europe and its refusal to host them in Central Asia. The article also touches on Russia's historical ban on the Taliban and its recent engagement with the group. The author suggests that while Moscow views the Taliban's rise as a blow to the West, it could backfire by inspiring separatist movements within Russia and destabilizing the region.

The article discusses Russian President Vladimir Putin's view of Russia and Ukraine as a unified ethno-religious community, which is reflected in his recent article 'On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians.' The author criticizes Putin's imperial mentality, which ignores modern international law and citizenship in favor of ethnic history. The article argues that Putin's perspective is dangerous for Russia's neighbors and could lead to conflicts. It also points out that Putin's policies aim to restore the Russian Empire, and his accusations against post-Soviet countries of being under Western control are unfounded. The author warns that Putin's denial of the sovereignty of post-Soviet states and his desire to revise borders could have serious repercussions, potentially even inviting territorial claims from countries like China.