Top Russian official warns west not to try to topple Putin

[Purveyor]

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) -- Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, on Friday warned the West against trying to topple President Vladimir Putin and said that Russians are ready to sacrifice their wealth in Putin's support.

Russia has for the past year been sliding into recession amid a slump in its energy export prices as well as Western sanctions against Moscow's role in the conflict in Ukraine that has claimed more than 5,000 lives. Questions have been raised in Russia and abroad whether the price that ordinary Russians are having to pay for the annexation of Crimea is too high.

Shuvalov, who is believed to be one of the richest men in the government, said that what he considers the West's attempts to oust Putin will only unite the nation further.

"When a Russian feels any foreign pressure, he will never give up his leader," Shuvalov said. "Never. We will survive any hardship in the country - eat less food, use less electricity."

Shuvalov's comments triggered pithy remarks on Russia social media including an opposition activist who posted photos of Shuvalov's Moscow, London and Austria homes to illustrate where the deputy prime minister would experience the hardships he described.

At the same panel in Davos, Putin's long-time ally and former finance minister Alexei Kudrin said that Putin clearly thinks that Russia's foreign policy interests at this point are worth the price the nation pays in higher inflation and the collapse of the Russian ruble.

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https://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=284366

[louis-t]

1. Jeez, those people are paranoid.

"We will eat our own feces before we will give in to capitalist pigs!"

[geek tragedy]

2. LOL. Plutocrats saying the people will suffer to protect the plutocrats.

Russia's plutocratic henchmen show great courage in the face of other people's suffering.

And their economic circumstances are due to their own misfeasance--including not weaning themselves off of carbon exports--not some nefarious plot to unseat Putin (as if)

[Igel]

3. While it might be nice for Putin to Shuvalov to Buffalo,

one wonders where this meme comes from. You really have to strain the meanings of words spoken by Western leaders to even get something within ICBM-range of that interpretation.


One can only assume that Putin's words is as the law of the Medes and Persians--once uttered, it cannot be repealed barring a tumult that overthrows the entire government. That kind of absolutist thinking belongs with the age of the Medes and Persians.

More of the "Long live the tsar', our father!" rhetoric. Shades of Boris Godunov (the Tchaikovsky opera, not the Pushkin play or the actual historical figure). Although this is a nice set up to a Smutnoe vremya (or "time of troubles&quot .

[Rex]

4. Wow, talk about a pathetic move to grab some attention!

I've seen 2 year olds act with more class!

[Spider Jerusalem]

5. Translation: "Putin will bankrupt Russia if it means he clings to power" (n/t)