Translated material
Who is preparing a “quiet coup”?
Bonya and Craft scared Putin?
TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov nevertheless apologized to blogger Victoria Boney: “Firstly, you look great. Secondly, yes, of course, I must apologize. You are absolutely right. Of course, I was too emotional, and of course, whatever the motivation behind what and why I said that, I should have been much more strict about my words that were said live.”
The conflict between Victoria Bonya and propagandist Vladimir Solovyov began after Bonya recorded an appeal to Vladimir Putin on April 14. In it, she listed the problems of Russians, which, in her opinion, are hidden from Putin. Meduza’s source later claimed that the political bloc of the presidential administration received an “urgent request” “not to develop the topic of Boni’s appeal.”
Almost in parallel with the debate between Bonya and Solovyov, Ksenia Sobchak published an interview with Ilya Remeslo. The blogger and lawyer, known in the past as an informer on Alexei Navalny, said that he wants to become “an instrument of influence on the authorities” for entrepreneurs and industrialists. Remeslo even called himself a potential leader of the Russian opposition movement. According to him, it is necessary to fight not only with Putin himself, but also with “Putinism” as a control system. He also expressed the opinion that a quiet palace coup, which could be led by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, is possible in the country.
Remeslo himself, previously absolutely loyal to the authorities, unexpectedly came out with sharp public criticism of Vladimir Putin at the beginning of 2026. After this, Craft was placed in a psychiatric clinic, from which he came out only the other day.
What is behind the performances of Boni and Craft, and whether what is happening around them can be considered a complex game with public opinion on the part of the Kremlin, we discuss with politician Mark Feigin .
On April 28, blogger Victoria Bonya , whose sensational appeal to Vladimir Putin was watched by more than 30 million people, came live on the Soloviev Live program. Immediately after this appeal, propagandist Vladimir Solovyov called her “a shabby slut littering the space,” and Bonya threatened him with legal action. On Tuesday, Solovyov apologized and admitted that “the blogger looks great” and he needs to “be stricter with his words on air.”
Bonya and Craft scared Putin?
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How the story of the two-week conflict between Victoria Boni and Vladimir Solovyov will end, why the famous blogger and influencer was allowed to publicly criticize the authorities, and what her concern about Russia’s problems will lead to, politician Mark Feigin said in an interview with Radio Liberty:
The Russian population bears costs, and these sentiments need to be channeled in some way that is not dangerous for Putin
- So far, this story speaks of some confusion among the authorities, because Bonya’s appeal, Solovyov’s reaction and their discussion are events that the Kremlin cannot control. Because everything Victoria Bonya talked about was the consequences of the war that the Kremlin itself started. Arrivals in Tuapse, environmental disaster and economic damage are a consequence of the fact that the war against Ukraine has continued for the fifth year solely by the will of one person. The Russian population in this situation bears the costs, these sentiments need to be channeled in some way that is not dangerous for Putin. Indeed, Bonya’s appeal was impulsive. She announced the slaughter of livestock in Siberia and flooded Dagestan. But then, I think, the apparatus of the presidential administration became involved and decided not to take this into the plane of confrontation.
From a political technology point of view, it was a manipulation that made this whole discussion less dangerous
On the contrary, they began to say that “we heard you,” and then there was Bonya’s second appeal with tears of happiness because they paid attention to her. Is this a result of the fact that she has 13.5 million followers on Instagram? No, not only that. After all, she is a person close to the authorities, and so they directed this conflict in a peaceful direction - they agreed to create some kind of discussion platform with Solovyov. Of course, Solovyov was told that he needed to apologize, he needed to soften the situation, he needed to lead it into some safe direction. And so it happened. This is done to reduce popular anger so that “discontent goes away.” That is, the main question of ending the war is not raised; they will simply aimlessly discuss how local officials are not coping with solving problems. The boyars are to blame, the king is good.
From a political technology point of view, this was a manipulation that made this whole discussion less dangerous. You understand that they called Victoria Bonya, talked to her, explained that there was no need to cross boundaries and break taboos. The main taboo is any attacks on Putin. Under no circumstances should he be made the main culprit and political claims brought against him. She fully complied with these conditions. From this point of view, this is a continuation of the manipulations of the presidential administration and the authorities as such. This will all end very soon. It’s interesting that Solovyov tried to talk to her about the war, but she didn’t need it. If she had a strong position, she would say that she is against the war. But she avoided all the sharp corners, says Mark Feigin.
Pro-government Russian blogger Ilya Remeslo , who wrote denunciations against Alexei Navalny and then criticized Vladimir Putin , gave an interview to Ksenia Sobchak . In it, he shared details of cooperation with the presidential administration.
What is the phenomenon of Ilya Remesla, who sharply criticized Putin, but ended up not in prison, but in a psychiatric clinic, and what will the authorities do with him next? – says politician Mark Feigin :
Of course, he is a deeply immoral and vile person who is responsible for all his actions
-The story with him is apparently not over. In an interview with Sobchak, he continues to share various “insights”. We already knew that he wrote denunciations against people for money and helped put them in prison; now he confirms this himself. He is as much an accomplice to these crimes as the authorities who ordered him to provide “legal support” for these cases. I believe that he is no lawyer, and now everyone knows it. It turns out that the authorities imprisoned people, what a revelation. But now he directly confirms it. Of course, he is a deeply immoral and vile person who is responsible for all his actions. What happened to him was most likely a matter of personal grievance. Apparently, his handlers from the FSB and the presidential administration know this.
I have no doubt that Sobchak asked permission to do this interview from the presidential administration. Apparently, they allowed her, or they simply didn’t mind. After all, they don't think it will do much harm. Indeed, there is nothing new or unexpected in what this comrade says. Most likely, they understand that there is no point in planting it now, because it will cause more conversations. Of course, he will not receive public support, but it will be too obvious that first they imprisoned and killed Navalny, and then they imprisoned the one with whose hands all this was carried out. It won't look very good, and that's why they give it some play and flexibility, says Mark Feigin.
Who is preparing a “quiet coup”?