Putin has begun “eating his own”: The FSB has targeted Rotenberg’s inner circle
8 July 16:48
OPINION
Vadym Denysenko, head of the “Delovaya Stolitsa” analytical center, believes that the recent high-profile arrests of members of the Russian business elite may indicate a shift in the balance of power within Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. He writes about this in his “Column, ” according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Denisenko drew attention to the arrest of Konstantin Makhov, chairman of the board of “Ruskhimalliance,” whom he describes as the right-hand man of Russian businessman Arkady Rotenberg. This is the second arrest of a high-ranking official in the past two weeks, which, according to the analyst, could not have taken place without Putin’s approval.
Denisenko speculates that these events may be linked to the Kremlin’s growing suspicions of potential disloyalty among big business. At the same time, he does not rule out an economic motive related to the redistribution of assets.
According to the expert, if the Kremlin truly views Rotenberg’s inner circle as a potential threat, then the businessman himself could also come under fire. An alternative scenario, according to Denisenko’s assessment, involves a repeat of a situation similar to the case of former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in which pressure is directed primarily at the inner circle rather than at the influential figure himself.
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Denisenko pays particular attention to the role of FSB First Deputy Director Sergei Korolyov. According to him, it was Korolyov who likely coordinated both the detention of businessman Ilya Traber and the current operation targeting representatives of “Rushimalliance.” The analyst believes that Korolyov’s influence within Russian security agencies is growing significantly.
Denisenko also notes that Arkady Rotenberg has been part of Putin’s inner circle since the days of the “Ozero” cooperative. In his view, the first signs of the businessman’s waning influence appeared as early as 2025, when he was unable to protect Roman Starovoit, then Russia’s Minister of Transport.
The expert believes that the current developments can hardly be explained solely by the fight against corruption. He suggests that the key factor is a shift in Putin’s perception of the situation within the Russian elite, and that this perception may depend to a large extent on the information reported to him by FSB leadership.
“If this trend continues, Russia’s domestic policy will become significantly less predictable, and the struggle between various influential groups will only intensify,” Denisenko concludes.
This article is based on a column by Vadym Denisenko. The assessments and assumptions expressed are the views of the column’s author.
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