Russian security agencies vie for roles in repression

Significance

The discreet power struggle is motivated by competition for budgets and powers, a desire to avoid blame and genuine disagreement about the best strategy to adopt.

Impacts

• Efforts by different agencies to improve their standing with the Kremlin may encourage escalatory patterns of repression.
• The uniformed police's reform programme, centred on improving its interactions with the public, is on hold for the moment.
• The armed forces have played no role so far and Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu seems determined that this will continue.