Putin's getting nervous about Russia's sinking economy

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Kremlinologists think it’s no coincidence that Russian authorities seized Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich just a day after he co-authored a Journal story on how Russia’s economy is “starting to come undone.”

Russia says Gershkovich was spying, which the Journal adamantly denies. It’s safe to believe the Journal because Russia passed a law last year that basically criminalizes what journalists do: ask questions about things the government doesn’t want anybody to know about.

That law focuses on anybody spreading information about the Russian military, which may apply to Gershkovich because he was reportedly researching a story on the Wagner paramilitary group that’s part of Russia’s invasion force in Ukraine. But that’s just a pretext for Russian President Vladimir Putin to punish and silence one voice highlighting the economic price Russians are starting to pay for Putin’s disastrous invasion of Ukraine.

For several months after Russian forces invaded Ukraine last February, the Russian economy seemed resilient. A spike in energy prices boosted Russia’s oil and gas revenue, its largest source of funds. Deft maneuvers by the Russian Central Bank helped the country withstand tough sanctions imposed by the United States and other allies of Ukraine. Russian forces floundered in Ukraine, but that was due to poor military planning and execution, not sanctions.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/putins-getting-nervous-about-russias-sinking-economy-201143630.html