The veterans the Kremlin doesn’t want | Eastern Express

Vladimir Putin has promised Russia’s war veterans a place in a new ruling elite. Ahead of the Duma election, a study of United Russia’s candidates exposes the pipeline from military credentials to political office. We examine the gap between official veteran labels and documented combat service, as well as a situation in which a primary winner withdrew from the election to clear the way for the incumbent.

This episode asks why the Kremlin’s promises of advancement depend so heavily on controlled selection and political patronage. What freedom, if any, will these newcomers have while speaking for fellow veterans when their interests clash with the officials who promoted them?

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: Russia’s parliamentary elections & veterans’ role as candidates
03:59 Introduction: Primaries and the limits to veteran advancement in politics
07:54 Interview: The Time of Heroes program as a tool of political control
10:25 Interview: Loyalty more important than competence
13:15 Interview: Veterans, military elites, & limited political advancement
15:45 Interview: The economic risks facing returning veterans
17:19 Interview: Prolonging the war as a strategy for survival
20:12 Eastern News Flash

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