Why elites matter for Russian policy

Max and Maria spoke with Nikolay Petrov and Mikhail Troitskiy, two leading experts on the contemporary Russian elite, to discuss the current status of this ruling group inside Russia today, and why it finds itself increasingly under pressure from state security organs.

This conversation was recorded on November 13, 2025.

"Отцы и дѣти: Генеалогическое исследование российской власти" (Proekt.media, November 2025)

"Transition without a successor: The transformation of Putin’s regime," by Vladimir Pastukhov and Nikolay Petrov (NEST, September 2025)

"Managing multiple audiences: dual-track signals and the silencing of Russia’s globalized elites before the invasion of Ukraine," by Mikhail Troitskiy (Post-Soviet Affairs, June 2025)