Taylor Discusses Putin and the Wagner Group's Mutiny with Forbes, Newsweek, Reuters, Vox

June 26, 2023

Channel News Asia,Forbes,KPCC,Newsweek,Reuters,SBS News,Vox

Brian Taylor

Political Science Department

Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs

Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict & Collaboration

Crime & Violence

Government

Russia

Ukraine

Brian Taylor

A convoy of militarized mercenaries advanced on Russia's capital calling for the resignation of top defense officials. But the weekend march by the Wagner Group ended before a possible confrontation with Russian forces. The deal that halted their rapid advance on Moscow raises questions about President Vladimir Putin's grip on power.

"I think Putin emerges from this significantly weakened," Brian Taylor, professor of political science and author of "The Code of Putinism" (Oxford University Press, 2018), tells Reuters.

"I think if you're a member of the Russian elite or are in fact a member of the Russian population, you're going to look at this and think, 'Wow, a private army just drove on Moscow for most of the day. No one stopped them and they're allowed to leave and no real consequences,'" he says.

Taylor also provided commentary in the following:

CNA (Channel News Asia): "Daily Cuts - Russia's domestic crisis"

Forbes: "Putin’s Drive To Make Russia The Opposite Of America"

KPCC (NPR): "Latest On Russia After Wagner Group’s 2-Day Rebellion"

Newsweek: "Putin Makes Surprising Comparison After Wagner Mutiny" and "Putin's Speech Sparks More Confusion Amid Russian Turmoil"

SBS News: "What could happen next for Vladimir Putin after the Wagner group's mutiny in Russia?"

Vox: "What’s going on with Vladimir Putin after the mutiny?"