Vladimir Putin could be toppled in a quiet “palace coup” within the next year, according to extraordinary claims made by a former Kremlin-linked insider who says Russia’s ruling elite are increasingly hostile to the president.
Lawyer Ilya Remeslo, previously known as a staunch supporter of the invasion of Ukraine and seen as close to elements of Russia’s security apparatus, has claimed that senior figures within the Kremlin “secretly hate” Mr Putin and are preparing for a post-Putin transition.
In a highly unusual interview with Russian media personality Ksenia Sobchak, Mr Remeslo suggested the foundations of the current system are weakening, arguing that internal contradictions within the Russian elite are reaching breaking point.
“Everyone knows it,” he said, when asked about dissatisfaction at the top of the Russian state. “The root cause is Vladimir Putin. It is obvious.”
He went further, predicting that Russia could undergo “profound changes” by the end of 2026 or early 2027, potentially including “a palace coup” that would remove the president without overt military intervention.
“It will be something very quiet,” he said, comparing the scenario to the post-Stalin transition of 1953.
The claims, which cannot be independently verified, stand in contrast to long-standing Western assessments that Mr Putin maintains tight control over Russia’s political and security apparatus, with little tolerance for dissent.
Mr Remeslo, who has now positioned himself as a critic of the Kremlin, said he intends to build a political platform aimed at those within the system who are “afraid to speak out”, claiming he can “lure people out of it”.
He also alleged that senior figures inside the Russian state are increasingly disillusioned, claiming they have lost access to the privileges they once enjoyed under the current leadership.
“They simply hate him because he took everything away from them,” he said.
Despite his previous alignment with pro-Kremlin positions, Mr Remeslo now says he believes Russia is heading towards systemic change, and has called for a “new Russia” based on a more open economy and reduced taxation.
He suggested that potential successors could include senior officials within the current system, naming figures such as technocratic Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, economic minister Maxim Reshetnikov, and Kremlin aide Alexei Dyumin.
However, he declined to explicitly endorse any single candidate, saying such a move could lead to immediate arrest.
The remarks come amid persistent speculation in Western intelligence and academic circles about long-term stability within Russia’s ruling elite, particularly under the pressures of war, sanctions, and economic strain.
While the Kremlin has repeatedly dismissed such theories, Mr Remeslo’s comments add to a growing body of dissenting voices — albeit from individuals whose credibility and motives are themselves heavily contested.
For now, Mr Putin retains firm control of the Russian state apparatus. But the suggestion that even former loyalists are now openly discussing succession scenarios underscores the extent of speculation surrounding Russia’s political future.
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