In Russia, signs of internal divisions within the power vertical are becoming increasingly noticeable. Central Bank representatives publicly disagreed with Vladimir Putin's assessments of the economic situation, and a State Duma deputy issued sharp criticism of the authorities, which may indicate growing tension within the Russian political system. This was reported by the Foreign Intelligence Service, according to UNN.
In Russia, signs of Putin's weakening control over the power vertical he built are becoming more apparent. Two episodes in recent days—a public disagreement with the Central Bank and sharp criticism from a State Duma deputy—testify to growing tension within a system that has long positioned itself as monolithic and stable,
Putin stated that the authorities have grounds for a further reduction of the key interest rate due to slowing inflation. According to Rosstat, the annual figure slowed to 5.31% in May from 5.58% a month earlier. However, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Alexey Zabotkin effectively refuted this assessment, emphasizing that data for a single month does not form a sustainable trend. Moreover, during the first week of June, inflationary pressure intensified again.
The Central Bank also points to additional risks to price stability. The growth of oil and gas revenues amid the escalation of the situation around Iran supported the ruble exchange rate, but this effect is temporary. At the same time, more expensive oil can accelerate inflation by increasing the cost of goods and logistics.
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The war against Ukraine remains the key factor. Budget expenditures continue to grow rapidly: in the first four months of 2026, the federal budget spent 17.6 trillion rubles, which is 40% higher than the volume allocated for the entire year. Under such conditions, the Central Bank is forced to maintain a tight monetary policy, effectively compensating for fiscal expansion with high interest rates. The consequence is a slowdown in economic activity in civilian sectors.
Against this backdrop, unusually sharp criticism was voiced by State Duma deputy Vyacheslav Markhaev from the CPRF faction. In an address dedicated to the war against Ukraine, he linked the demographic decline, the increase in attacks on Russian cities, and numerous corruption scandals to "ineffective leadership." Markhaev called for abandoning showy forums, curbing tariff increases, strengthening the accountability of officials, and presenting a public plan for ending the war to society.
His speech became one of the sharpest public signals of dissatisfaction from the once "pocket" opposition since the start of the full-scale invasion. The deputy warned of the risk of a social explosion and directly placed responsibility for the situation on the current authorities.
An additional indicator of problems for the Kremlin was the decision by VTsIOM to stop publishing Putin's trust rating. Against the background of a deteriorating economic situation and a protracted war, the Russian authorities increasingly choose control over information instead of a public explanation of negative trends.