If Putin were Kaput...

[mindfulNJ]

Who, or what would replace him?

I am old enough to remember how hopeful we all were when the USSR fell...we all know how that turned out. I am far from a Russia expert and would really like to hear some educated theories on this.

[SheltieLover]

1. Sanctions need to remain until REAL democratic govt. In place imo

[Wingus Dingus]

2. Medvedev? Is that guy still around? He used to follow

Putin everywhere as sort of a VP or even possible successor, but I don't know if that's still a thing.

[dalton99a]

9. No. Putin threw him under the bus

and he was forced to resign

[Wingus Dingus]

13. Ah, ok then.

[SheltieLover]

3. And Russia must be forced to completely disarm nukes!

He has threatened the world verbally several times and attacked 2 nuclear power plants & physics institure with nuclear material.

[marie999]

21. Never going to happen unless every country does the same.

[SheltieLover]

24. This needs to happen.

Russia is a clear & present danger to the world.

[marie999]

28. Russia isn't the only threat to nuclear war.

Though it might not start WWIII, I am also worried about India and Pakistan.

[SheltieLover]

30. Russia's putin is the current problem.

[marie999]

31. Yes, but India and Pakistan are always a threat.

[SheltieLover]

32. Russia's dysfunctional, murderous bully is the problem today.

[SoonerPride]

4. Here ya go

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10564101/Who-replace-Putin-toppled-coup-rogues-gallery-replace-Vlad.html

Who could replace Putin if he is toppled in a coup? The rogues' gallery of henchmen including spy chief who 'approved' Litvinenko poisoning who could assume control of Russia if president is overthrown

Sergey Shoygu (Minister of Defence)

Shoygu is Russia's 'second-most' popular politician after Vladimir Putin.

The defence minister from Chadan, in eastern Russia, has been instrumental in organising the invasion of Ukraine but was tellingly caught on camera grimacing after Putin ordered him and army chief Valery Gerasimov to place Russia's nuclear deterrent on high alert.

Shoygu took the role despite having no military experience in 2012 and presided over the annexation of Crimea in 2014.


Nikolai Patrushev (Secretary of the Security Council)

Patrushev is the former head of the FSB, the successor to the fearsome Soviet spy agency, the KGB.

The Secretary of the Security Council is said to share the conspiratorial world view that former FSB head Putin also shares.

More at the link

[mindfulNJ]

7. Meet the new boss...

same as the old boss!

I am hoping the people would want a bigger change but what do I know!

[SoonerPride]

10. I'm sure the people do want someone different

But they won’t be asked.

[mindfulNJ]

11. Probably not

[True Dough]

5. In a dream world

Alexei Navalny becomes president.

[Celerity]

19. +10000000000000000

[andym]

6. Yeltsin was fine

It was his hand-picked successor Putin who has been causing trouble. I do think more effort should have been taken to integrate Russia with the West and NATO after the SU's fall-- might have avoided a lot of the trouble today.

Almost certainly Putin would be replaced by a lackey.

[Celerity]

20. Yeltsin was horrific, he let the oligarchs rape and plunder most of the national economy

[andym]

27. Yeltsin was "fine" in that he was the only leader under whom Russia was free and non-aggressive

For the most part during his leadership, the Russians had a free press, could criticize the government and opposition leaders could be elected. Russia was not pursuing empire building or world domination under Yeltsin. That occurred because Yeltsin was a weak leader (supposedly often drunk).

Now as for corruption, it was rampant as as in any third world country that had little experience with freedom-- it's just under such weak leadership that criminal enterprises thrive, and corruption was part and parcel of Yeltsin's Russia and directly led to the rise of Putin.

[flying_wahini]

8. Yes, Nevalny would be wonderful.

[AntiFascist]

12. There needs to be a complete overthrow of the old KGB cronies...

Russia already has a framework/appearance of a democracy, they just need to make it functional.

[El Supremo]

14. The way it is supposed to be:

Prime Minister Michael Mishustin would succeed to the powers of the Presidency, for not more than 3 months, until a new election is held. But who knows who could seize power? BTW, Mishustin is Jewish and one of only six Jews who are heads of state.

[OAITW r.2.0]

15. I miss Gorbachev.

Sad that he had to deal with Ronald Reagan. I wish Jimmy Carter and Gorbachev had set the vision...and the future,

[WarGamer]

16. probably Medvedev, at least initially.

Well known in EU diplomatic circles... seen as a moderate.

[world wide wally]

17. For once, in all actuality:

It couldn't be any worse

[Bettie]

23. That's what I think too

honestly, it couldn't be worse than Putin.

[relayerbob]

18. Whoever is holding the gun

There is no succession plan that anyone knows of, and they aren't likely to be holding free elections. Probably one the General Staff. Shuygun is being rumored right now, but that may just be disinformation to cause paranoia and distrust in the Kremlin.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

22. Is there a Russian comedian in the house?

[mindfulNJ]

29. HA!

Let's hope so.

[Skittles]

25. like the Taliban

there is no shortage of fascist assholes willing to take his place

that is true everywhere

[rownesheck]

26. Hmmm...

what about Yaakov Smirnoff?

Never mind. I just read he is of Ukrainian descent, so I guess that wouldn't work.