The former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov says the war in Ukraine has changed the public’s attitude to Putin - but warned there is no chance for opposition to rise in Russia.
Kasyanov also warned that Putin ‘could try to test Article V of the Nato charter’ by invading one of the smaller Baltic states.
Speaking on GB News, Mikhail Kasyanov said: “Putin still has support and the report from Putin’s propaganda and Putin’s agencies says 85 per cent of us support him in the country, but in fact, I think it’s always more like 40 per cent.
“In the election in 2000 he got 52 per cent, but all others were fake elections and he got 45, 49, 42 per cent and I think right now his support is lower.
“But in terms of the war, this aggression against Ukraine, I think the attitude to the war and to Putin has been changed. People have started to reconsider their attitude to Putin because of those casualties and bodies coming back to the cities, and small cities in particular, are creating a different vision for ordinary people.
“They have started asking questions about why we have this war. For Mr Putin it’s important to demonstrate the unity of the nation, as he has these upcoming elections, which are not elections, but an imitation. He wants to be seen as a victorious leader, not as a losing one.
“The economy is suffering mostly in one important section, which is the cap on the oil price and last year we saw this effect within three months.
“Foreign exchange inflow into the country was reduced dramatically, and the budget deficit rose immediately up to 5% of GDP. But in the summer Putin instructed the central bank to devalue the currency and the Ruble was devalued - and the oil price just started to grow.
“Putin’s people managed to find a way to overcome sanctions and he managed to stabilise the budget.
“There should be pressure inside Russia and outside to remove Putin. Inside Russia right now is impossible because Putin puts all leaders in jail. Some of us who are abroad have already been killed.
“Boris Nemtsov, my friend, my collaborator, was killed on the words of the Kremlin. Alexei Navalny was killed in jail, in the camp.
“People live in fear and the fear to identify themselves as protesters, to identify themselves as against Putin's regime. That means today, there is no chance for opposition to rise inside Russia.
“But outside, of course, this war against Ukraine, that is the fundamental issue for all foreign leaders. Ukraine is the important issue because Ukraine is not just fighting for their territorial integrity, but fighting for all European countries.
“Putin could easily try to test Article V of the Nato charter. It could be one of the small countries of the Baltic states.”
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