Nikolai Petrov Quotations

The fact that the appointments were made together shows a complex balance of power in the government.

There are groups in the Kremlin who believe that (the old) methods are not necessary any more.

Officials could see how the tough rhetoric resonated in society during the gas war with Ukraine last week.

The essence of the methods (used by the Kremlin) is to remove from power those leaders that are too independent from its point of view.

The central power may be using this 'brown' threat as a means to transfer power in 2007-8 in much the same way they used it in 1996. At that time, they made the case that the Communists were threatening a comeback, making former President Yeltsin's team look so much better in comparison.