Putin’s system is in state of slow implosion

Alexandra Propenko/Financial Times: The west looks for signs of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s weakness in the form of a high-profile split in the elite, or falling popularity ratings as the public mood sours. Yet while the regime is under real pressure, it remains resilient. The erosion that matters is easier to miss — perhaps even a little dull. Fiscal discipline slipped long ago, and now budgetary processes and parliamentary checks are also being quietly set aside…