A number of recent developments have provoked unease in both Russia and the West about the state of Russia's civil-military relations. The Russian army's massive campaign in Chechnya, forceful comments by Russian military commanders, the promulgation of a new draft military doctrine, and the recent staging of military exercises and test launches by the Russian armed forces have prompted numerous commentators, such as William Odom, to claim that "the Russian generals are so frustrated that they are lashing out in a number of different ways at the same time." Some Western and Russian analysts have gone even further, arguing that the Russian army already has launched a "silent coup" and is now the de facto ruler of the country. […]
Memo #:
99
Series:
1
PDF:
PDF URL:
http://www.gwu.edu/~ieresgwu/assets/docs/ponars/pm_0099.pdf
