Kremlin fears Shoigu-staged coup, intelligence suggests
Vladimir Putin and Valery Gerasimov (Photo: Sputnik/Grigory Sysoev/Kremlin via REUTERS)
According to reports
from European intelligence services, a recent meeting convened by dictator
Vladimir Putin turned into a two-hour argument among three of Russia’s top
security officials, former Ukrainian MP and diplomat Roman Bezsmertnyi told NV
Radio on May 6.
Bezsmertnyi said the clash involved FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, and National Guard commander Viktor Zolotov. He said the quarrel was triggered by accusations that the Federal Protective Service, the FSO, which is responsible for the physical security of Russia’s leaders, was failing in its duties. Bezsmertnyi noted Putin had to halt the argument and ordered each agency to prepare its assessment.
He added that all meeting participants suspected Security Council Secretary and former Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu of plotting a coup.
Bezsmertnyi said the session was not a full Security Council meeting but a narrow gathering of Putin’s closest aides, a configuration he described as evidence that Putin is preoccupied with conspiracies and becoming more isolated.
A European intelligence report cited by CNN, the Financial Times and the Russian investigative outlet Vazhnyye Istorii said Putin fears being killed by drones and that members of the Russian elite might organize an assassination or coup. The report said the Kremlin fears drones could be used by figures within the political elite for possible attacks, prompting the Federal Protective Service to tighten security around Putin.
The report also said Shoigu, who became secretary of the
Security Council in May 2024, is “associated with the risk of an attempted
coup” because he retains significant influence within the military command
structure. All of the claims are presented as assessments from European
intelligence and have been reported by the outlets cited.
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